Around Calhoun County Archive
by Bill Bailey

January 26, 2012

Monday was a nice taste of the warm and breezy days of the coming spring. Temperatures were in the lower 60s, making it possible to walk around town in shirtsleeves, although the 35-45 miles per hour gusty winds precluded wearing my hat. I just didn’t feel like chasing it all over town.

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More spring flowers are beginning to appear in our yard. We are seeing daffodils and jonquils coming up alongside the snowdrops, which will be blooming in a week or so.

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I have heard reports that the bald eagle that has been wintering in the area, has been spotted in our holler. I have yet to see it, although I will admit that I have not had much time to look for it. I will have more time to look around, and take photos if possible, as the days get longer.

*    *    *    *

Robins have been spotted in Calhoun, and reported to me by two independent observers. I will keep looking in the usual fields until I see some myself.

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Calhoun still led the state in unemployment statistics for December, with a rate of 12.7% in the latest release by Workforce West Virginia that came out Jan. 23. Webster and Grant counties are a close second with a rate of 12.6% each. Among area counties, Roane’s unemployment rate is 11.8%, followed by Wirt, 11.5%; Clay, 11.0%; Ritchie, 7.7%; and Gilmer, 6.3%.

January 19, 2012

If my memory serves me right (and it isn’t all that reliable), this time period in 1994 makes the weather we have had lately seem like a walk in the park on a sunny day.

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I know that we had a blizzard that started on Saturday and rendered all of the county and most of the state a disaster area.

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Although the weather service had predicted three to four inches of snow, we ended up with over 28 inches at our house.

*    *    *    *

Every pine tree on the hill next to the house was uprooted or broken off. Many of the beautiful large redbud and dogwood trees in our yard were also uprooted and more than 25 timber-sized trees were in the middle of our road.

*    *    *    *

This was followed by the coldest temperatures I have ever seen. Two days after the blizzard, I awoke, looked at our outdoor thermometer, and did a triple take. It read 30 below zero. I put on some coffee water, drank a cup, then thought to get my camera to take a picture of the thermometer. By then it had warmed up to 28 below.

*    *    *    *

It was so cold that when I set up the camera on an old metal tripod, my mustache froze to the tripod and caused considerable pain when I jerked loose.

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All together, we spent five days marooned in our holler before the highway department was able to cut us out. It was one of the most enjoyable times that we had with our kids, watching them make tunnels, forts, castles, snowmen and women, and all of the other things that kids used to do to have fun in the winter.

January 12, 2012

I really don’t like wishy-washy winter weather. It should be cold enough to freeze the mud, but not so cold as to freeze the nose off my face. It is aggravating to drive out the holler on frozen mud and drive back in at the end of the day on squishy, sticky red clay mud.

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It seems that the wooly worms this fall predicted a nasty winter from start to finish. I guess they were wrong, so far.

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These warm days and frigid nights have been causing a phenomenon known as freezing fog, which happens when fog forms overnight and then freezes on the road surface in the early hours of morning. If it is thick enough, it is also known as black ice, so be very cautious and drive slow. It is better to get where you are going in one piece than to get there in pieces.

*    *    *    *

I have been hearing some coyotes making their noises in the holler for a couple of weeks now. It seems they like to chase deer about every other day.

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Our snowdrops are still up, and not frostbitten as yet, but I believe they are wondering what happened to the warm weather that caused them to rise from the earth so early in the year. There are still no other flowers peeking through the winter grasses.

January 5, 2012

We have ushered in a new year and let me tell you, it’s going to be a long one. It is, after all, Leap Year, which gives us one extra day every four years.

Since there will be 366 days this year, I expect most of us will have to find something to do on the extra day, perhaps visit with loved ones or enjoy a day driving along the back roads of the county, maybe even touring scenic or historical spots in our beautiful state.

*    *    *    *

I went to school with a guy whose birthday was on Feb. 29. We used to joke around with him about only being able to celebrate his birth every four years, but as I reflect on this, I realize that a person born on Feb. 29, 1904 (1900 was not a Leap Year, even though it was divisible by 100, it was not divisible by 400, which is the rule), would only be 27 years old by the calendar.

*    *    *    *

Over the weekend, I was walking in our yard when I noticed that the first flowers of the year, the little white Snow Drops, were up, but have not yet formed blossom heads. I don’t remember seeing them up this early, but perhaps they were trying to tell me that snow was on the way.

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All things considered, it seems like this was a fairly peaceful start to the New Year, and I sincerely hope that the  rest of the year is just as uneventful.

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The first day of this year was one of the windiest days in quite a while. We listened to the wind roaring across the hill tops as the warmer weather was replaced by an icy blast that also gave us a couple of inches of snow over Monday and Tuesday. The rest of this week should give us slightly warmer temperatures for a few days and then we go back to winter.

*    *    *    *

There was a bad accident on White Pine Road on New Year’s Eve, with one person airlifted to Charleston after being cut out of his vehicle with the Jaws of Life.

December 29, 2011

Well, Christmas has come and gone again for another year. The good news is that next year is Leap Year, so we will have an extra day to pay for this year’s gifts before we get to do it all over again.

Even though I really wanted snow for Christmas again this year, just like last year, we were stuck with bright, sunny weather with temperatures in the mid-40s. When we awakened on Christmas morning, the world outside our windows was bright white from an overnight coating of frost.

 *    *    *    *

I hope that all of you had as much fun with friends, neighbors and family (especially grandchildren) as we did on Christmas Day.

It makes it all worthwhile to see the wide smiles and hear the joyous laughter as gifts are opened in the morning or tales are told around the table as we partake of our holiday feast.

*    *    *    *

Now that the New Year is upon us, I hope that everyone has a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead, full of love and laughter--and fishing, mustn’t forget about fishing.

December 22, 2011

Freezing and thawing is already making me wish for some beautiful, white snow to cover up the mud that would make walking easier when off the pavement, and also make the world seem more festive and seasonal. I just love to see pine and holly trees laden with new-fallen snow.

National Weather Service is saying that we will not have a white Christmas, but I still have not given up hope that it may at least snow on Christmas Eve so that it can be just a dusting on the ground Christmas morning. Anything is possible.

*    *    *    *

A young Ohio woman apparently suffered from a seizure and lost control of her vehicle last Sunday while driving along Rt. 5 near Big Root Road. She was taken by ambulance to Minnie Hamilton where she was treated and released.

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A Calhoun County man and woman are facing charges for allegedly operating a lab for making methamphetamine in the Big Bend area.

Harley Little, 41, and Tiffany Davis, 23, face penalties of imprisonment for not less than two years or more than 10 and a fine no less than $5,000 up to $25,000. Bond has been set at $20,000 each.

*    *    *    *

A woman from Hog Knob stopped in the Chronicle office last week to confirm the sighting of a Bald Eagle by Charlie Simers of White Pine, who brought in a photo of the bird about a month ago.

According to the woman, the eagle has been spotted flying up and down the Little Kanawha River and occasionally crosses the ridge near where she lives.

It would be nice if the bird has a mate in the area. We will have to watch for developments next year, when the weather warms, to see if there is nest-making happening.

*    *    *    *

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours, and all of ours, a very Merry Christmas. May you enjoy the company of family and friends during this holiday season and be safe, warm, and content.

December 15, 2011

I guess that as we mature, we begin to tolerate the cold weather a little less each year. The recent cold temperatures, being down in the mid to upper teens, make it hard for me to warm up once I am really chilled. Perhaps, I will make a large pot of chili this weekend, and try to stay inside as much as possible.

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A water line ruptured along Main Street on Monday, causing a small geyser to erupt from the sidewalk in front of the old Koffee Kup restaurant. There was no damage to the sidewalk just a muddy mess.

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There have been three celestial events in the past few weeks that I have not mentioned in this column as I usually do.

This was brought to my attention by a reader who thought I had forgotten about them. The fact is that there was not going to be much to see with any of them, and I didn’t want anyone to freeze for little return.

Two meteor showers have occurred, with an almost full moon washing out all the brightest ones, and a total lunar eclipse last weekend that was only visible from the west coast and Pacific area.

We will just have to hope that next year the moon lets us see more events in the night sky.

*    *    *    *

Muzzle load rifle hunters are getting their chance this week to bag another deer. The weather has been perfect so far, clear and cold with no rain, but the forecast calls for it to become rainy before the end of the week.

I hope the hunters can keep their powder dry, although most muzzle loading rifles in use today utilize percussion caps to fire instead of flint and a flash pan. It must have been really difficult to hunt in old days.

December 8, 2011

We still see deer in our holler, but there has been a change in how they act when they see us. They are very wary and tend to run away almost as soon as we spot them. Before deer season, they would stand still and just look at us until we went away.

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I saw a large flock of migrating buzzards circling above Grantsville on Monday afternoon. There were probably 40 or 50 birds in the flock, which were last seen heading south.

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Hometown Country Christmas Santa parade last Friday evening was a big success with area youngsters. There was quite a crowd cheering for Santa when he arrived on the front bumper of a fire truck. He then went into the courthouse to find out what the little ones wanted for Christmas and gave each of them a large chunk of chocolate.

*    *    *    *

An 86-year-old Millstone man went deer hunting Monday afternoon and failed to return before dark, causing his worried family to call 911 for help finding him. He was found right away, no worse for wear, and informed his rescuers that he was running late because he had killed a deer and it took time to get it out of the woods.

*    *    *    *

Snow is in the forecast for the latter part of the week, but I don’t think it will amount to much. I do hope we have snow for Christmas. It is all that I want for a gift.

December 1, 2011

I am still able to walk upright, so I guess that makes me an upstanding member of the community.

*    *    *    *

There was considerable high water last week from the incessant rain, but little to no damage reported. Roads were closed all over the county and the high water caused the courthouse in Grantsville to be closed on Wednesday. The creeks and river are back within the boundaries of their banks   for the moment. The forecast mentions snow and colder temperatures.

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Thanksgiving, which has come and gone, is a special time for the gathering of family and friends. I hope everyone had as nice a thanksgiving as I did, and I hope you enjoy the rest of this year.

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Talking with some of Calhoun’s deer hunters last week revealed that many were not in the woods the first couple of days due to the rain and fog. Most feel that hunting weather this week will be better and they have planned their hunting excursions accordingly. I, and the automobile insurance industry, wish them the best of luck.

November 24, 2011

The news about my back is still good. There is a loss of feeling and muscle in the right leg to contend with, but I am still pain-free in that leg. I wish to thank everyone who sent me cards and kept me in their hearts and minds.

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I have noticed that many forsythia bushes have been fooled by the recent spate of warm, wet weather. At least one of the bushes, along White Pine Road, is almost in full bloom.

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Bucks only deer season started Monday with a whimper, at least compared to other years. I usually awaken to the echo of many rifles firing on nearby ridge tops and down toward the end of our hollow. This year, not one shot. In fairness to the hunters, the weather is too warm to hang a deer. It was so foggy in the morning that it would have been difficult to see anything 10 feet away, and doggone it, it is much more traditional to hunt deer when it is snowing.

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A major water line break at Mt. Zion last week caused inconvenience to Mt Zion PSD customers, but probably made many children happy. Due to problems with the water, school was closed for a day. 

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Two cars collided near Chloe Hardware last Thursday after-noon, causing injuries serious enough that both drivers had to be transported to Charleston Area Medical Center’s trauma unit, one by helicopter. The Jaws of Life was used to extract both victims from the wreckage. Rt. 16 was closed until the wreck was cleared from the highway.

*    *    *    *

A fire on Thursday evening, near Leafbank, severely damaged a home and destroyed all of the belongings of James and Jessica Wilmoth and their two children. If you would like to help the family, call 354-0050 or 354-6704.

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The weather forecast for this week is not good for hunters. Daytime temperatures will be in the 50s and 60s with plenty of rain and no snow in sight at   this time. Temperatures next week should be in the 40s and 50s, with a cooling trend coming at the end of the forecast period.

November 17, 2011

As some of you might have noticed, I was unable to write this column last week.

I have been suffering from severe sciatic pain for a couple of months and was finally referred to a neurosurgeon in Charleston who took a look at me, my MRI and nerve damage assessments, and said, “Do you want the surgery tomorrow or do you want to wait until next week?”

When he told me that there was an 80 percent chance that the pain could be alleviated with surgery, I said, “Let’s do it tomorrow.” I had the surgery on Friday, Nov. 4, and now the pain in my leg and foot is gone!

I still didn’t feel well enough to come back to work right away, so I didn’t write this column last week, but I am very happy to report that I should not be missing anymore work due to the sciatic problem. It is amazing how much your outlook on life changes when you are no longer suffering in agony.

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I saw a red fox trotting up the road that runs past our house early Monday morning. We also saw one of the barred owls while driving out of the holler.

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Someone hit a deer really hard on Town Hill over the weekend. Right at the beginning of the skid marks, there is evidence of an exploding deer. Oh well, I guess the crows and other scavengers enjoyed having their dinner already in pieces.

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Bucks only deer season begins Monday. You can tell it is getting close by the number of gunshots you hear in a day’s time. Every hunter knows that you have to make sure that your rifle is shooting on target, so that you won’t miss that big one on opening day.

I would like to remind every-one to follow the rules of safe hunting and remember not to shoot at anything you cannot see clearly--and donate your deer.

*    *    *    *

Someone broke into the equipment building at Calhoun County Park around the first of the month and stole a weed-eater, pole saw and chainsaw. Thieves also trashed the park by tossing garbage cans over the hill and around the pond. When the thieves are caught, perhaps part of their sentence should be public service at the park for a year.

*    *    *    *

There was a two-car collision on Sunday night in the Annamoriah area that sent one man to Minnie Hamilton Health System for evaluation. Three other crash victims were shaken up.

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There were three brush fires in the county in the past week: one on Meadow Run near Minnora, one near the Clay County line, and one on Rush Run, near Stumptown.

The woods are ripe for fires at this time of the year and all hunters should be aware of the potential for fire when they are in the woods. Make sure that you extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, etc., and watch any camp fires to ensure that no sparks get to the woods.

November 3, 2011

Oak trees are beginning to look like torches in the early morning light, with all the shades of red their leaves are showing this year. If you have yet to go for a walk in the woods this fall, grab your kids and your camera and enjoy the last of the warm weather this weekend, taking photos of your children playing in the leaves.

*    *    *    *

If you got up early last Saturday morning, you witnessed the first measurable snowfall of this coming winter. We had over an inch on our deck railing and I, at least, loved watching it drift slowly to the ground like snowflakes in a snow globe.

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I have it on good authority that a bald eagle was hanging around the White Pine area recently. I also saw the picture of our national bird that was taken while it was sitting on a tree branch near the creek, not far from the old swimming hole known as Big Rock.

A coyote was also killed in that same area at about the same time. Perhaps Calhoun County is becoming wild. We already knew it was wonderful.

*    *    *    *

Don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour on Saturday night before you go to bed. It will allow you to sleep in an extra hour, although it robs you of an hour of light in the evening.

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I didn’t see or hear any ghosts or goblins in our holler over the weekend, but I did hear what I believe to be coyotes arguing with a barn owl last Sunday night.

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Anyone driving through Grantsville last Saturday morning may have thought that the bridge was a strange place for someone to hang their “delicates.” It actually was done to promote Breast Cancer Awareness and is known, at least around here, as Bras Across the Bridge. Hopefully, the string of bras all along the sidewalk didn’t “hold up” any traffic.

October 27, 2011

The nightly chorus of crickets and katydids has been greatly diminished by the recent chilly weather. Crickets were chirping so slow last Sunday night that I almost felt sorry for them and wished I could warm the holler up enough to make them happy.

Fall foliage is still changing on a daily basis, getting more and more colorful every day, at least until the next storm blows through with wind and rain, and sends the leaves to the ground.

*    *    *    *

Veterans Day is Nov. 11. If you or a family member were in the military, and have not been listed in our veteran’s issue in prior years, send us your information (branch of service, years served and where, rank, etc.) and we will add it to our veteran’s pages for the issue of Nov. 10. There are many more who served in the military from Calhoun County than we have listed, but we need your input to complete the listing.

*    *    *    *

Calhoun Historical Society presented its Legends and Lore drama last weekend, with beautiful weather conditions.

Members should be very proud of the production that made visitors feel like they were transported back to the 1860s.

The actors’ portrayal of their characters was so believable, you could feel their pain, fear and sense of loss from living in the trying and turbulent time of the Civil War.

*    *    *    *

There was a fire reported in a trailer in the Beech Road area last Thursday morning. The fire was in the furnace, and residents were able to extinguish the fire before fire fighters got to the scene. There was smoke damage, but otherwise no more problems.

If you have not had your furnace or heating units serviced and checked by a professional, now would be a good time to have it done. Performed each year, it could save your family from the many disasters that can happen from faulty equipment.

*    *    *    *

There was an accident in the Annamoriah area last Saturday evening that involved a single vehicle that wound up on its top. Two ambulances and Grantsville VFD responded. Three people were sent to the hospital.

*    *    *    *

Drivers need to be alert for seasonal changes in driving conditions, such as wet leaves on the road, deer running out, frost forming on bridge surfaces, and, coming soon, snow and sleet.

October 20, 2011

The bountiful beauty of last week’s autumnal glory was short lived when a storm front passed through the county on Thursday night. Between the strong winds and the heavy rain, many of the recently colorfully turned leaves were driven from the trees prematurely.

At least, down in our holler, it looked like a winter blizzard of leaves instead of snow, as the leaves were ripped from the hilltops only to waft down in our yard as gently as feathers after a pillow fight. I thought of it as a prelude to what I will see when the snow really begins to fly.

*    *    *    *

Owls are once again beginning to frequent the edges of our yard in the evening. They come, unfortunately, when it is too dark to identify them properly, although we can tell that at least one appears to stand over two feet tall.

*    *    *    *

Someone who occasionally drives through town, usually around five o’clock, seems to be using old deep-fryer oil from restaurants to power their truck. I think that is a good idea, especially since the exhaust from that truck smells as if a restaurant just drove down Main Street.

I much prefer that smell to the stench of diesel or gasoline engine exhaust, although I do find myself hankering after a large order of French fries after the truck passes through.

*    *    *    *

Fat Matt’s, the restaurant across from Rite Aid in Grantsville, was broken into sometime between Saturday evening and Monday morning. It remained closed on Monday, as the investigation was underway. Police report that they have a suspect of interest in the case.

*    *    *    *

The new Ruth Looney Trail, connecting Minnie Hamilton Health Service and the town parking lot, was dedicated on Tuesday afternoon. A small crowd was on hand for the dedication and ribbon cutting, and many took the initial walk to the bottom of the trail. It was unknown how many walked back up the stairs, as I am too lame to walk them in either direction.

*    *    *    *

Sometimes, you are driving along one of our beautiful Calhoun highways and an animal suddenly darts out in front of your car. If you cannot stop in time and hit the animal, you hope that you didn’t hurt it, or your car, too badly. Unless the animal you hit happens to be a black bear, then you hope you didn’t hit it and make it mad enough to wonder why car guts taste like people.

That is approximately what happened around 8 p.m. on Sunday, when a car collided with a black bear in the vicinity of Orma. Fortunately for the driver, the car suffered light damage and the bear was killed. DNR officer Charles Stephens responded to the call and took custody of the bear.

*    *    *    *

The 2nd annual Legends and Lore Tour, sponsored by Calhoun Historical Society, will be held on Saturday at 2 and 5 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. It is     a very interesting and informative way to learn how things were in the 1860s, as well as some of the history of our county, and the life and times of our ancestors.

October 13, 2011

The trees covering Calhoun County’s hillsides have already begun to show off their autumnal beauty. We started noticing over the weekend that the hickory trees were beginning to turn golden and the maples were putting on their scarlet cloaks.

For some reason, the poplar trees have already dropped most of their leaves in our holler and the sycamores looked downright ghostly showing their white bark in the light of the full moon.

*    *    *    *

The hoot owls and the barred owls have been yelling at each other nightly to celebrate the coming of fall and the good hunting made possible by the brilliant moon.

*    *    *    *

Emergency services responded to Milo Road last Thursday morning, answering a call to possible drug overdose.

The 26-year-old victim was unresponsive and not breathing when the ambulance arrived, but began breathing on his own again after being administered CPR by emergency personnel. He was transported to Minnie Hamilton Health System.

*    *    *    *

Grantsville’s annual town-wide yard sale went well last Saturday. The weather could not have better and there were many people taking advantage of the bargains to be had all over town. One worker at Grantsville Foodland said, “It seemed like the Wood Festival was going on. There were so many people in town, it has been very busy here.”

*    *    *    *

The 57th annual Black Walnut Festival is going on this week. The Calhoun County High School marching band will be in the parade on Saturday and compete in the festival band competition.

October 6, 2011

For those of you who think they don’t get enough exercise by walking multiple laps around Underwood Field or walking around River Street, there is a new way to tone up those muscles, a stair climber.

Construction of the new walking path to promote health and fitness between the town parking lot and Minnie Hamilton Health System’s parking lot is almost complete. It appears that there are plenty of stairs to climb--for those so inclined. If you do a few laps up and down that walkway, you will feel the burn in your legs, lungs, etc.

The good news: If you experience any chest pains or extreme shortness of breath due to one lap too many, you are really close to the emergency room.

*    *    *    *

I know that most of you would rather not hear this, but there was over eight inches of snow on the ground at Snowshoe. I daresay that we will see snow, at least in the air, before the end of October.

*    *    *    *

It has been almost a week since we have seen a humming-bird at our feeder. The feeder will continue to hang there until the weather turns cold enough to freeze the nectar, just in case a latecomer needs a drink. We miss them already and hope they are enjoying their vacation in the south.

*    *    *    *

I have still not found my old hat, but I am now wearing another one that was donated  by a nice lady who stated,   “You just don’t look right in a ball cap.” My thanks for the nice hat, I think it looks pretty good.

*    *    *    *

A car went over a steep embankment on Beech Road last Thursday night, which resulted in an arrest for driving under the influence for the driver and cuts for the unlucky passenger.

*    *    *    *

Another wreck on Friday night occurred on Rt. 5 east of Grantsville, when a driver lost control of his vehicle and took out a telephone pole. The driver was transported to Minnie Hamilton for evaluation.

*    *    *    *

Not to be outdone, there was a wreck on Sunday night on Crummies Creek Road. A pickup truck apparently rolled over on its side, so the passengers -- and others on the scene -- rolled it back onto its wheels and they drove away before police arrived on the scene.

September 29, 2011

Since timing is rumored to be everything, why was it that the thunderstorm that hit here on Monday evening slammed us so hard just as we started down our road? With blackened skies surrounding us, and only nine-tenths of a mile to go before we reached the safety of our home, the full fury of the storm was unleashed.

Rain fell so hard we could barely see the road; tree limbs were flailing this way and that, and the wind was throwing branches at us, which bounced off the car as loud as gunshots.

There have been many trees that have fallen across our road during storms and we had our fingers crossed that we would not see one fall in front of us, or on top of the car.

The good news is that we did, indeed, make it home un-scathed. We even managed to cross the creek before the water got too high; although we were pelted by small hailstones and drenched by the time we got inside.

*    *    *    *

There was a good turnout for the Molasses Festival held last weekend. The making of molasses is hard work and the volunteers who make this festival happen, I am sure, would like to see some young blood begin to come to the meetings so the festival can continue for generations to come.

*    *    *    *

An early morning trailer fire near Stinson, on Mud Fork, caused firemen to worry about the safety of the occupants. Since no one was there when the firemen came to fight the blaze, they could only assume that they were inside the structure. After sifting through the debris for a couple of hours, the occupants, Billy and Debra Melrath Cason, returned to the scene. They had been at a neighbor’s house since escaping the blaze, with one person suffering a burn on the arm.

The State Fire Marshal’s office will look into the fire.

*    *    *    *

The sign in front of where the old bridge used to be on Main St. has been repainted and you can now read “Calhoun County,” “Lions Club” and “Women’s Club.” It is a nice improvement to the town.

*    *    *    *

A man who was found dead in the woods near Russett has been identified as Larry Estep, 55, of Looneyville. He died as a result of injuries sustained from a four-wheeler accident.

*    *    *    *

A Five Forks man, Charles Blair, whose home was destroyed by fire a few years ago, was charged with indecent exposure last Thursday morning. It seems that Blair was spotted walking along Mill St. in Grantsville wearing nothing more than a blaze orange hat and a pink backpack. I totally agree, blaze orange and pink are a nasty and indecent combination.

*    *    *    *

A 22-year-old man was injured Monday evening when he lost control of a four-wheeler along the Left Fork of Crummies Creek. He received injuries to his head and chest.

September 22, 2011

Two yellow jacket nests were discovered in our yard when the final weed eating of the summer was done. Our son-in-law, Chris Nicholas, was doing the job for us and suffered multiple stings.

Little did the bees know that stinging Chris only served to make him angrier than a stirred up beehive.

We watched him jumping around while continuing to beat the ground in one spot with the weed eater, and occasionally swatting at himself. When he trotted away, still swatting at himself, and shut the machine off, we asked what he had been doing while hitting the ground, “Swatting yellow jackets with weed eater string,” was his reply, “They think they can fly straight at me, but the string turns them into a yellow fog.”

We gave the bees their just desserts (a generous dollop of gasoline) a couple of nights later.

*    *    *    *

A body was found in the woods near Russett last Saturday afternoon. At this time, police have not released any information as to the identity of the man or the cause of death.

*    *    *    *

It is beginning to smell like fall now. I was sitting on the porch last weekend, watching leaves fall like snowflakes whenever a breeze blew down the holler, when I noticed that faint, musty smell of fall.

It was certainly quite chilly last Thursday and Friday nights. Chilly enough that we had the heating stove providing us with a welcome, warm glow.

*    *    *    *

The end of summer and the beginning of autumn is this Friday. It seems that it wasn’t long ago that we were welcoming spring back to the area. The years just seem to fly past, like hummingbirds in a fight.

*    *    *    *

I have been told by more than a few people that this year’s crop of squirrels is every bit as tasty as last year, and that the gravy may even be better.

*    *    *    *

Turkey, deer and foxes seem to be on the move, and anxious about the season changing.

September 15, 2011

We now seem to be down to one remaining hummingbird from our abundant summer flock. She seems a bit on the chubby side now (stored energy), so I expect her to be gone shortly. Itinerant groups of hummers are still stopping by the feeder for a few sips of nectar on their way south.

*    *    *    *

I have observed more than a few wooly worms in the past week. The bad news is that they were all completely black, which might mean we are in for a bad winter. If I remember correctly, last fall’s wooly worms were all black too.

*    *    *    *

Squirrel season started last Saturday. I guess not many hunters were in the mood for squirrel gravy, since I did not hear one shot the entire day.

*    *    *    *

One problem with severe sciatic pain shooting down the leg is that the more it hurts the hotter I feel.

At some point during one of my “hot flashes,” I took off my hat (brown, looks like a Stetson) somewhere, to cool my fevered brow, and lost the darn thing. I have found that long-term pain equals short-term patience, so I must have just walked off and left the hat where it lay.

If anyone has found my hat, I would really appreciate you dropping it off at the Chronicle office. It was a treasured Christmas present.

*    *    *    *

Two Calhoun County men face felony charges for burglary, as well as other charges, after being arrested in connection with crimes committed lately in the West Fork area.

Alfred Starcher is charged with three felony charges and is being held in Central Regional Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Brian Lamp is charged with one felony count of nighttime burglary and is being held in Central Regional Jail in lieu of $12,000 bail.

*    *    *    *

The weather forecast for this weekend calls for us to experience a little taste of fall, perhaps forcing some to turn on their heat. Overnight temperatures are projected to drop into the mid-40s by Friday night. Wear a jacket to the game.

September 8, 2011

Our hummingbirds are few nowadays, but I will continue to fill the feeder until mid November to allow migrating hummers from up north to stop by our house for a sip of the nectar.

*    *    *    *

Sunday will mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001. That day is also Patriot Day. Therefore, while we honor the lives lost, and the courage shown by our fellow Americans on that day 10 years ago, we must also remember what it means to be true Patriot. The dictionary defines the word as meaning, “One who loves, and is devoted to, his native country and its welfare.”

*    *    *    *

I am starting to see large flocks of birds heading south to spend the winter in warmer climates. Personally, I like winter--watching the snow fly while the woods are covered under a blanket of white--and would miss it very much by having only two seasons a year, hot and hotter, with increased humidity.

*    *    *    *

Squirrel season opens Saturday. It is said the reason the season is starting a month early is to allow hunters more time to bag the wily little tree hugging critters. I used to hunt them myself, years ago, but had no luck when the trees were still fully in leaf. The hunting was much better after the first killing frost helped remove the leaves from the trees and botfly larvae from the squirrels.

 *    *    *    *

There were three accidents over the Labor Day weekend and, fortunately, everyone involved survived.

An all-terrain vehicle went out of control Saturday evening close to Frozen Run on the West Fork injuring a man bad enough that he had to be flown to a hospital with head, arm and hip injuries.

A motorcycle wreck near Chloe on Sunday sent another victim flying to a hospital with a broken leg and other unknown injuries.

Monday evening, a car went out of control on Phillips Run, crashing through a garbage enclosure and flying through the air over the creek before coming to rest on the far side of the creek. The car was totaled and two passengers were taken to MHHS, where they treated for minor injuries.

*    *    *    *

At approximately 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Grantsville and vicinity lost power due to an unknown problem at presstime. Power was restored at 5:03 p.m. allowing me the opportunity to rewrite this column, since I lost my work when the power went off unexpectedly. Perhaps it is even better this time.

On a strange and weird note, when the power came back on something happened in town that has not happened in quite a few years, the fire siren went off, repeatedly. There were many people who stopped their cars in the street to ask what was going on: is it a fire, a tornado, or just the end of the world?

September 1, 2011

We are beginning to see more and more squirrels running across the road as they scope out the nut trees in preparation for a fall harvest. I wonder if anyone notified them that hunting season is slated to start about a month early this year. They sure are pretty busy.

*    *    *    *

The pain in my butt has moved down my leg to my knee, where it hung out for a short visit before moving down into my right foot, which now feels quite numb and useless.

I figure in a day or two I should be able to take off my shoe and shake the pain out of it onto the ground, where I will quickly bury it. [Editor’s note: We believe Bill is under the influence of pain medication.]

*    *    *    *

I incorrectly stated that there was no damage in our area from the earthquake. At least one house on White Pine Road shook hard enough to cause the glass in their shower to shatter. Fortunately, no one was taking a shower at the time. That could have been embarrassing.

*    *    *    *

Hummingbirds have slowed down their intake of sweet nectar to the point where I only refill their feeder every couple of days. There are definitely fewer of them too.

The bird feeders filled with sunflower seeds are already seeing an increase in business as fall closes in and their time to fly away comes closer. We are running through about 20 lbs. each week. We will miss them when they leave, but we really enjoy watching all the ones that trust us to visit the feeders during the winter, as they shiver in the snow.

*    *    *    *

Hurricane Irene missed our area completely with much needed rain, although there was a stiff, steady breeze blowing across the ridges last Saturday. There were also some interesting cloud formations going over from unusual directions.

*    *    *    *

A head-on collision between two cars caused some serious injuries last Thursday, just south of Orma on Rt. 16. Two victims suffered compound leg fractures and both were sent to CAMC, one by ambulance and one by helicopter. Two helicopters were requested, but weather conditions allowed only one to come to the scene.

*    *    *    *

At about the same time, a trailer fire was reported near Nicut Road on Upper Big Run Road. The car wreck still had the road closed, which caused a problem to firemen responding to the fire. No one was living in the trailer at the time of the fire.

*    *    *    *

Autumn is only three weeks away. Enjoy the last days of summer while you can. Snow will be flying soon.

August 25, 2011

The last lightning bug in our holler has disappeared. We saw it blinking slowly as it made its lonely way around the edges of our yard last week, but when I looked for it over the weekend, it was gone. All that I can see now are the glow bugs on the ground that promise that we will have a new batch of them to admire next May.

* * * *

I have been experiencing some rather painful sciatic nerve pain for a short while. Even though it has tended to slow me down, it hasn’t been all bad. Last Wednesday, I was passed on the street by one of the most beautiful ladies in Grantsville, Ola Jarvis Stalfort.

The Chronicles had arrived and needed mailed out, so I was on my slow and painful way down Main Street when I heard Ola pushing her handy basket walker behind me. I tried to speed up so I could beat her to the corner and cross the street before she got there, but she caught up and passed me as I was going past the Family Court building.

Since she is a year or so older than me, she stopped and asked me what I had done to myself. When I replied I was getting old, she laughed at me.

As soon as I feel better, I am going to demand a rematch. I just hope I don’t embarrass myself again.

* * * *

Folks around the county, and many other places, were shook up on Tuesday afternoon when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake occurred about 35 miles northwest of Richmond, Va. Calls were coming in to the Chronicle office immediately after the quake from concerned citizens who wanted to know if we had any information on the event.

An aftershock with a magnitude of about 2.8 on the Richter scale occurred about an hour after the initial shock.

So many people were attempting to send a report in to the website of U.S. Geological Service that its server evidently crashed and prevented many reports from being received.

While East Coast earthquakes are far less common than in the West, they tend to be felt over a much broader area. That’s because the crust is not as mangled and fractured, allowing seismic waves to travel without interruption.

The quake, which happened one day after a 2.8 magnitude knocked foodstuff off shelves in Colorado, was felt as far north as Toronto, Canada, and forced evacuations in government buildings up and down the east coast and as far west as Columbus, Ohio.

As of 4 p.m., Tuesday, no damage had been reported in our area, except for shattered nerves, although slight damage and mild injuries have been reported in areas closer to the epicenter of the quake.

*    *    *    *

For those who like to walk in the woods, and know what ginseng looks like, ’seng season starts on Sept. 1. Be sure you have permission from landowners, dig only the bigger three and four prong and no little ones, and re-plant all  seeds in the area from which you dug the root. If you know what yellow root (goldenseal) looks like, it fetches a pretty good price too, some say $30 a pound and up for quality, wild roots.

August 18, 2011

Rain, as well as temperatures, fell over the weekend. I hope that will set the trend for how the weather will be for the rest of the summer, which has only five more weeks to run.

*    *    *    *

Some of our hummingbirds have been hovering just outside our sliding screen door, chattering at us as if to thank us for providing them nectar all summer. I suppose they will be leaving for their winter vacation in the southern reaches over the coming weeks. We will miss them when they go.

All we will have to watch when they go is the fall migrating birds and the goldfinches and other species that hang around all winter.

*    *    *    *

I have seen quite a few big buck deer along the roads. Some of the racks are still in velvet, some are nice and shiny, and some look as if the buck is carrying a sumac tree on his head. Be careful that you don’t bag a buck with your Buick.

*    *    *    *

I got up at 4 a.m. on Saturday to see the Perseid meteor shower. I put water on for coffee and went outside to check the sky for cloud cover.

While I was outside for those five minutes, I saw one very bright, quick shooting star, so I made the coffee, woke Jeanne up and we sat in our lawn chairs on the deck drinking coffee and staring up into space. That’s when the clouds moved in and we didn’t see another meteor. Oh well, next August it will happen again in a darker phase of the moon, so we will just have to wait.

*    *    *    *

I would like to thank the highway department for the work they are doing on White Pine Road. They are using a small paving machine to repair the bad spots, making the road smoother and much easier on my aching back.

*    *    *    *

Arson is suspected as the cause of a fire on Monday afternoon that burned the old Mt. Olive Baptist Church to the ground. Volunteer fire departments from Grantsville and Arnoldsburg responded to battle the blaze in the old abandoned church that was located along Husk Ridge.

Since there had been rain off and on that morning, both departments had trucks slide into the ditch while driving out the dirt road.

The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the fire.

August 11, 2011

We are finally seeing a break in the heat and humidity department. The forecast is for some rain showers, followed by lower temperatures and less humidity, which should allow us all to    be a bit more comfortable. It should be nice weather for a walk in the woods.

*    *    *    *

Don’t forget about the annual Perseid meteor shower that will peak this weekend. Go out a few hours before dawn, look toward the northeast, and enjoy the show.

*    *    *    *

Ginseng digging season used to start Aug. 15, but the season now runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. The average price for a pound of dried wild ’seng was $445 last year, but I would guess it will go even higher this fall.

This is a good time to scout the woods for three and four pronged plants in preparation for the season’s beginning. Even if you see a nice, big four-prong plant, with a gob of red berries in the middle, you must wait until next month to dig it. Get a good topographic map and mark your harvest areas.

*    *    *    *

The hummingbird circus at our house has a new act, yellow jackets. They gather at the feeders and attempt to chase the hummers away. The hummers then try to pierce the little bees with their sharp beaks. We just sit back and enjoy the show.

*    *    *    *

Two pickup trucks collided in a sharp turn near Orma last Thursday morning, sending two of the occupants to the hospital, one with a possible fracture.

August 4, 2011

It is still very hot and humid, with little to no rain to cool things off. There have been some lightning flashes over the horizon on occasion, just enough to make it nice to sit on the porch with your feet up, listen to some good music, and enjoy the light show. I think of it as going to Mother Nature’s concert.

*    *    *    *

We may have hit upon a way to get hummingbirds to associate with each other without quite so much aggression; they get along much better when they are hungry.

Last Sunday, I was filling the four feeders, with maybe 24 hummers (they are quick and hard to count), when one of the feeders suffered a broken string and crashed onto the deck.

The broken feeder had been able to accommodate five at once, and of the three that are left, two take them one at a time and one will feed as many as eight at once.

Now, they all congregate on and around the big feeder in a cloud of grey, white and crimson. They will only allow others to sit at the feeder long enough to get a sip or two and then they swoop in to remind them that others are thirsty too.

It is almost like watching a flying catfight with 24 cats involved. You can’t get entertainment like that on television.

I guess I need another large hummingbird feeder.

*    *    *    *

A tractor accident on his farm sent family court judge Larry Whited to the hospital last Sunday morning. He remains in the intensive care unit at CAMC General Division, Charleston.

*    *    *    *

The annual Perseid meteor shower is due to peak around Aug. 12-14, but the full moon will keep us from seeing the fainter ones. To view it, go out around 3:30 a.m., set up your lawn chair, and look to the northeast. Usually, there are around 60 per hour flashing across the night sky.

*    *    *    *

A single car accident sent a man to the hospital last Wednesday night. The vehicle he was riding in went off a small bridge on Straight Creek Road and wound up in the creek bed. The man suffered a back injury and appeared to have not had his seat belt on.

*    *    *    *

Two post offices are on the list of future closures released by the U.S. Post Office last week. Orma and Millstone will be closed and their routes and P.O. Box customers transferred to another location.

*    *    *    *

There have already been more than a few calls to the emergency center concerning bee stings. Yellow jackets are beginning to get mean as fall approaches, so be careful when mowing or walking to avoid stirring up a nest.

July 21, 2011

It is entirely too hot for it to be only mid-July. Even with some storms forecast to pop-up throughout the rest of the week, daytime temperatures will still be in the 90s, with overnight lows in the mid to lower 70s. It will also be quite humid. Absolutely perfect weather to suffer heatstroke, so try to maintain your cool.

*    *    *    *

Some folks traveling through Yellow Creek late last Saturday night had a problem when they missed a bridge and the car went over an embankment and into a small stream. Three people were injured, with two females flown to Charleston and one male taken to Minnie Hamilton Health System. State police are investigating the accident.

*    *    *    *

The annual State Police marijuana eradication program started earlier this year, with helicopter surveillance over the county for a couple of days last week. Apparently, the over flights were successful as the State Police have said that several arrests are pending due to the searches.

*    *    *    *

A neighbor called last Saturday to inform me of a large tree that had fallen across our road and onto the telephone line. When I went to check it out and see if I could cut it out of the road, I learned a valuable lesson--never over-tighten the chain on a chainsaw.

The last time I cut a tree off the road, my chain came off the bar and I had to take it home to put it back on and tighten it.

I put it back on and made it nice and tight, and put it back in the car until the next tree falls, but it will not go around the bar when it is too tight to move away from the bar. It just smokes the clutch until you loosen it up a bit.

Now, if I can remember to keep the tools in the car to accomplish both those repairs, I will be doing fine.

July 14, 2011

The weather has been just a tad too hot and humid for my taste, but the storm that blew through the area on Monday evening did cool things down a bit. Of course, with winds blowing through the trees hard enough to bend them almost completely over, that is to be expected. The high winds caused some power outages in the county and blew a few trees down in the roads, but nothing too bad. The rain was welcomed too, except to those who had hay down waiting to dry.

*    *    *    *

We still have birds flocking to our feeders to enjoy the black oil sunflower seeds, but the biggest change in the bird population is our hummingbird flock.

We have four hummingbird feeders strategically placed around our decks, so it is difficult to count the little hummers as they buzz around from one to the other, but I think we have more than a dozen visiting this summer.

They tend to flock the most around whichever feeder has the oldest nectar in it, since it has probably started to ferment. I guess they like a buzz when they are buzzing around harassing each other.

They congregate and are not quite so hostile to one another when dark approaches. They must feel that the need to fill   up before they sleep is more important than guarding the feeder.

*    *    *    *

Two folks I know were driving along the West Fork last week when they spotted something cross the road in front of them. They both got out of their cars, looked at each other, and said, “Did you see what I just saw!” They reported that they saw the biggest black bear they have ever seen amble across the road and go off into the woods. I know for sure that West Virginia is wonderful, and it seems to getting wild as well.

*    *    *    *

One of our daughters took her children to Family Fun Day in Big Bend last weekend. They all had a great time and look forward to going again next year. An airplane flew over and tossed candy out to the children. I hope they don’t start thinking that every airplane has candy to throw out or they will get a stiff neck looking up all day.

July 7, 2011

The weather for the holiday weekend was delightful. It threatened to rain and storm, but never did at our house, although I understand that it rained and stormed quite fiercely in other parts of the county. We were able to see some nice fireworks from our front deck on Sunday night.

*    *    *    *

Dog Days have set in, in case you had not noticed how hot and humid it is. I was always told that you should be extra careful about cuts and scratches during Dog Days, so be sure to clean all wounds and apply anti-bacterial ointment before you bandage, and change the bandage every day.

*    *    *    *

We finally met the raccoon’s little ones. I think their mom was trying to teach one of the little guys how to hold the bird feeder with one paw while scooping out sunflower seeds with the other. Evidently, she forgot to show it how to hold onto the deck rail with his back feet, because we heard a loud squealing and squalling, a sound containing both pain and fear, coming from the deck.

When we looked, momma ’coon was hanging on to the feeder laughing, and one small ’coon was staggering around the deck making a racket to equal the sound of doom. I almost stepped on it as it stumbled out from behind a large planter, and I was barefoot. The other little ones had already been scared by the excitement and had scattered to the yard, where all we could see were their little eyes.

*    *    *    *

Repairs made to Rt. 16, one to fix a slip and another where a water line break had been, have been repaved like new. My hat is off to the highway department for the quick fixes.

*    *    *    *

Over 300 people attended last Saturday’s all-class reunion held at Calhoun Middle/High School. I am certain that there were many folks whose face still hurt on Sunday from all of the smiling they did at the event.

*    *    *    *

People traveling Rt. 5 west of Grantsville should expect some delay in their travel for a while. The road is being resurfaced from Big Bend to Big Root, so be extra careful driving through that area.

June 30, 2011

I believe I was once told by an elder that you could tell what the coming winter will be like by observing where the yellow jackets build their nest. Close to the ground, or underground, means a mild winter. Last week, I found that they are building a nest on our upper deck, eight feet above the deck surface. That’s a whole lot of snow, although it was pretty deep on that deck last winter. Oh well, their prediction is probably invalid, since I sprayed the nest and knocked it down.

*    *    *    *

On a similar note, I found an emerald ash borer on the deck and sent it to the Promised Land, hopefully, before it laid any eggs.

*    *    *    *

Jeanne and I stopped at the Grantsville Farmer’s Market last Friday and took home a large bag filled with fresh produce. It provided some good, healthy eating, and we will be shopping there each week.

*    *    *    *

Someone bounced a vehicle off a brick wall along High St., Grantsville, just above the First Baptist Church early one morning last week. I would not be surprised if there wasn’t a deer involved in the accident.

*    *    *    *

One of the creatures we don’t see much of around here is the timber rattlesnake. Thanks to Sand Ridge resident Philip Stevens, there is one less rather large timber rattler left to scare the pants off of us.

Stevens’ wife and her cat were out walking last Thursday morning when they spotted the 53.5-inch rattlesnake lying coiled up next to a log. Stevens tamed the snake with a 12-gauge shotgun.

The Stevens’ Sand Ridge home is located near Bear Fork, where many wild creatures are known to abound.

June 23, 2011

The weather has been tolerable for the past week. It rained fairly hard on Sunday, but I am sure we needed it. Severe weather is predicted this week, but it remains to be seen if the storms actually reach here.

*    *    *    *

Summer officially started Tuesday, June 21, so at least we made it through the spring, now if we can only make it through the summer.

*    *    *    *

Our telephone line was caught by a bulldozer riding on a flatbed truck last Wednesday morning, and snapped like an old thread. I called Frontier to report the outage and was assured it would be fixed within 24 hours. It is my opinion that Frontier needs a new clock, as our phone wasn’t repaired until Friday by one of the local technicians, who had received the repair order that very morning.

*    *    *    *

In an unrelated incident, Calhoun County was without broadband service for most of the day on Monday due an outage of service from Frontier.

*    *    *    *

A nesting pair of barred owls that live in our holler have been pretty busy sitting in a maple tree at the end of yard hunting rodents (and, I think, robins). We always know when the owls fly into the maple tree, as all of the other birds who nest in and around our yard, raise a ruckus and try to chase the much larger owls away. It seems to annoy the owls to no end.

 *    *    *    *

Thomas Husk, accused of the second degree murder of John Cyrus, waived a preliminary hearing in Calhoun County magistrate court last week. The case will go before a grand jury. Husk’s bond was reduced from $300,000 to $20,000 at the request of his attorney. Husk will be placed under home confinement until the trial. The defense stated that this was a case of self defense, without premeditation.

*    *    *    *

An outbuilding next to a house trailer on Mud Fork burned last Thursday night. A fireman responding to the call wrecked his truck when he lost control on the wet roadway. He was unhurt, but his truck was not so lucky.

*    *    *    *

A pick up truck wrecked on Rt. 16, just north of the intersection at Millstone on Friday evening. A teenage boy was injured in the accident and sent to CAMC.

*    *    *    *

Two Calhoun residents were arrested in Nicholas County   for possession of items necessary in making meth. The men were arrested after a traffic  stop. Bond was set at $50,000 each.

*    *    *    *

Now that summer is here, ATV crashes have begun. A young girl was injured after wrecking on Slab Fork, off White Pine Road, on Monday. A man struck a building near Orma while riding an ATV on Monday evening.

June 16, 2011

After quite a long spell of hot, humid and miserable weather, Mother Nature turned off the heat and turned on the air conditioner. While that was a welcome for most folks, some were seen sporting sweatshirts and sweaters to maintain the body heat.

*    *    *    *

Severe storms moved into the area last week, uprooting trees and disrupting electrical service to many residents of the West Fork area. When the storm passed over Grantsville, it turned as black as nightfall outside, rained sideways and lightning struck close by, but little damage was reported.

*    *    *    *

Three would-be Huckleberry Finns captured a boat that the storm had cast loose in the Munday area, and jumped in for an adventure, leaving two more cautious people waiting for their return. The afternoon trip on the Little Kanawha River came to an end when members of Grantsville Volunteer Fire Dept. found them a few miles downstream around 1:30 a.m. after a three-hour search.

*    *    *    *

We took the bird feeders in one night last week to foil the supper plans of the raccoons. They were caught, red-handed, as it were, pulling feeders over to the deck railing with one paw, while scooping sunflower seeds into their mouth with the other.

I did not know that raccoons could be so vindictive. They squealed and squalled for over an hour, with momma ’coon yelling at her babies and them yelling back. We could hear them scurrying around and making noises on the deck, and found what they had been up   to the next morning. Utter mayhem.

They had knocked things off the railing down into the yard, knocked over a decorative yard rabbit, and attempted to destroy some of our pink flamingo yard ornaments. They even gnawed most of a candle. They are now on my short list.

*    *    *    *

There has been some haying done along Pleasant Hill ridge. The smell of newly cut hay is one of things I think of on cold winter days. It helps to warm me up.

*    *    *    *

A lot of work is being done on Rt. 16 north of Grantsville. A slip close to the top of Town Hill is being repaired with steel girders that should hold things back for a while. The paving job from the top of Town Hill to Big Springs is finished and the guardrails are being done.

*    *    *    *

W.Va. State Folk Festival will be held this weekend in Glenville. There is always foot-stomping music, dancing and clogging. Grace DeLorenzo is representing Calhoun as a Folk Festival Belle.

June 9, 2011

Even though I bragged on the weather last week, it was nothing compared to the three days of the Wood Festival. The weather was perfect and the festival was fantastic. If you didn’t make it into Grantsville for the festival, you should next year.

*    *    *    *

It would appear that the opossums that have been plaguing us for the last six months or so, have been replaced by raccoons. That’s okay by me. Opossums look like giant rats, while raccoons are somewhat cuter, with their little black noses, and bandit-shaded faces. We still try to keep them from coming to the deck, but they insist on paying a visit almost every night. We have yet to see the little raccoon kids, but I know we will soon.

*    *    *    *

Grantsville Farmer’s Market opened last Friday with a good showing from area growers and artisans. Tom McColley was there with a variety of produce, live plants and granola foods.

Joshua Stough of Sycamore brought fresh and dried shitake mushrooms and inoculated oak logs, so you can grow your own.

Grant Clark, blacksmith, was selling leaf lettuce and hand-made metal items.

The Honey Man, Wayne  Cottrell, had honey for sale. His table was covered with jars of comb honey, strained honey, cream honey, and honey ice cream topping with nuts.

Janet Richards offered golden comet pullet chicks, fresh brown eggs, apple and blackberry pies, brownies, and key lime cup-cakes.

*    *    *    *

A 21 year-old man was found in the road near Big Springs last Thursday evening, with severe head trauma after apparently falling from a moving vehicle. Brian Huffman, who used to live in the Big Bend area, did not appear to have been hit by a car. He was flown to CAMC and is in serious condition. People on the scene when the ambulance arrived had no idea how the man had come to be in the road.

*    *    *    *

On the other end of the county, a man went over an embankment on Walnut Road last Friday evening and suffered head trauma requiring a chopper ride to CAMC.

*    *    *    *

If you have business to be conducted this week at the courthouse in Grantsville, be advised that it is scheduled to be closed on Friday, June 10, due to the installation of three-phase electricity to run the new air conditioning system.

June 2, 2011

I don’t believe it would be possible to have better weather for Memorial Day weekend-- temperatures hovered just below the hot stage and no rain.

*    *    *    *

Multi-flora roses were in bloom for those who like to pick flowers to place on the graves of people they didn’t much care for. Daisies were plentiful for those loved ones that we miss most at this time of year.

*    *    *    *

Our children and grandchildren were in the holler on Sunday for fun, food and frolic. Mostly, it was the grandchildren who did the frolicking . . . in the creek.

*    *    *    *

Things almost got a little too interesting last Wednesday morning when a truck hauling dynamite to the new bridge construction site at Annamoriah lost its rear end, along with some of the load, two miles East of Brooksville on Rt. 5. The road was closed to all traffic for a few hours while the explosives were secured and moved. No injuries were reported.

*    *    *    *

There has been a turn of events in the 2006 alleged murder of David Wayne Beach of Roane County. With new evidence in hand, State Police have filed murder charges against William Albert Denmark of Beech. Investigators returned to the area in March 2010, unearthed the alleged gravesite, and sent the soil and contents of the dig to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., for forensic analysis. The forensic report confirms finding a .38 caliber bullet, as well as indications that a human body had been in the grave and removed.  

*    *    *    *

This weekend is the Wood Festival celebration in Grantsville, with all kinds of entertainment, food, crafts, and fun for all, as well as a chance to visit with all the folks you only see at the festival. The weather should be tolerably warm with very little precipitation, so I reckon we will see you there!

May 26, 2011

Lightning bugs have begun to dance in the fields each evening. They always bring a peaceful feeling when I watch them flash their messages of love to one another.

*    *    *    *

I heard a report of a black bear being spotted along Rt. 7, near Stumptown. I hope that it was heading into Bear Fork where it belongs. There was one traveling through the White Pine region some years back, but it hasn’t been spotted in quite a while.

*    *    *    *

Memorial Day is Monday, so be sure to remember loved ones you have lost, and hug the ones you still have.

*    *    *    *

Folks in Grantsville still have no actual restaurant to sit down in for a meal. It seems that word of the closings has not reached everyone, since some people have been observed bumping repeatedly into the door, thinking that it is merely stuck. Word on the street is that the corner, smaller eatery, may open soon under new management.

*    *    *    *

This has been one of the rainiest springs I can remember. There has not really been enough dry weather to get a decent start on a garden, although the weather has been perfect for yard growth.

*    *    *    *

Environmental Protection Agency staged a mock drill last Sunday at a dorm at Glenville State College. It was supposed to resemble the explosion of a methamphetamine lab, with injuries, evidence protection  and crime scene security procedures. It cost $30,000 and was filmed by the EPA, which will give a report to the responding agencies in about two months.

May 19, 2011

It has been very cool and rainy during the last week. Some folks have even been spotted on Main Street wearing coats. I guess we all were a little spoiled by temperatures in the 80s. The first cutting of hay is looking thick and full, but the weather is going to have to change for it to be harvested.

*    *    *    *

Koffee Kup did not open on Monday and word on the street is that it is not going to re-open any time soon. I suppose Gino’s, Momma T’s and the Foodland deli will be a little busier for a while.

*    *    *    *

There was a terrible wreck about three miles east of Grantsville on Rt. 5 at the end of Laurel Creek on Saturday morning. Volunteer firemen used the jaws of life to extract one man from the twisted wreckage. Four people were injured, at least one seriously, and a record number of four Life Flight helicopters responded to transport the victims to trauma centers.

*    *    *    *

Thieves broke into Chloe Hardware twice last week and made off with pop, cigarettes and beer. Maybe they should buy more of these items when the store is open, so that they don’t run out in the middle of the night and have to resort to crime to satisfy their habits.

*    *    *    *

Now that spring is fully upon us, people are beginning to drive their four-wheelers too fast for road conditions and getting themselves injured. It seems that it would be a more enjoyable ride to go no more than 15 miles per hour and enjoy looking at the scenery, rather than watching it go by in a blur and then becoming part of it. Walking is also a safer alternative and is much quieter.

*    *    *    *

We happened to drive by the Recycling Center at Cabot’s Station last Saturday and were glad to see traffic backed up waiting to offload old tires at the tire roundup. It was a very successful event.

*    *    *    *

Too bad more people didn’t make it out to the polls to vote. The turnout for that very important event was somewhat light.

May 12, 2011

The world around us is now a plush, living green; so is my lawn. Guess I had better get it mowed before I come home to find it baled and stacked.

*    *    *    *

Cardinals are bringing their babies to our feeder to teach them to crack open sunflower seeds. Just like human children, they whine, wheedle and complain until someone else cracks the shell and gives them the succulent reward. They learn quickly, though, and then the cardinals return to their nest and hatch another clutch, so they can go through it again.

*    *    *    *

The resurfacing project of Rt. 16 from Pleasant Hill to Big Springs is moving right along. It doesn’t look or feel like the same highway without all the bumps and cracked pavement.

*    *    *    *

The Little Kanawha River has quieted down now that the rain has stopped. It is actually starting to look pretty good for fishing. It might just be about time to locate my fishing gear and put some new line on the reels.

*    *    *    *

The race for governor will narrow the field on Saturday. The primary for the 14-month unexpired term has 15 candidates. The general election will be on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Be sure to go to the polls on Saturday to make your choice known.

*    *    *    *

Another good reason to go out this Saturday is to get rid of some of the tires lying around. W.Va. Dept. of Environmental Protection and Calhoun County Solid Waste Authority are sponsoring a tire collection from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cabot Recycling Station. Old tires are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. This is your chance to legally dispose of up to 10 of them, 16 inches or less.

*    *    *    *

The honey locust trees are blooming and the bees are enjoying their blossoms. Jack-in-the-pulpits are also in bloom. The morel season is down to finding the last of the giant yellows, and then we have to wait until next spring. 

May 5, 2011

Calhoun County had plenty of rain and some storms, but from Mississippi to Virginia, 312 tornadoes were spawned from last week’s storms, with a record setting 226 in one day (the previous record was 148 in 1974). It was also the second deadliest tornado outbreak since 1936 when 436 people died.

The violent outbreak cost 342 people their lives, with thousands more injured, and many who lost everything they owned.

www.AccuWeather.com said there were more than 900 tornadoes in the U.S. in April.  Unfortunately, May and June are the months that usually are the worst for violent weather. I guess we all had better batten down the hatches and hold on tight to our loved ones.  

*    *    *    *

Dollar General in Grantsville is undergoing a transformation, with remodeling happening that should make shopping there a better experience for customers. The store will have a grand re-opening celebration soon.

 *    *    *    *

This weekend is Mother’s Day. Remember, mothers will love you when no one else will. Give her a hug and kiss, take her out to dinner, or think of her if she has already passed on.

*    *    *    *

Someone attempted to steal equipment from Ted Adkins’ equipment yard, just south of Arnoldsburg last week. Windows were broken and ignitions were tampered with, but nothing was stolen. Adkins is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the those involved.

The same thieves may have been involved in a similar incident at Ron Lane’s used equipment lot that was unsuccessful.

*    *    *    *

Grantsville is holding its annual town-wide yard sale on Saturday. If you have any money to spare, and wish to  buy things as cheaply as possible, come to town and hit all the sales. If you don’t need anything, there will be bake sales to satisfy your sweet  tooth.

April 28, 2011

A barred owl made our day early Monday morning when it took time out of its busy breakfast schedule to pose for some pictures.

Usually, I get my camera in hand quickly and begin to shoot. This time, the camera said, “Change the batteries,” and so I did, with some loose ones rolling around the bottom of my camera bag. The camera was not happy with my choice of batteries and repeated its earlier message.

The owl waited, somewhat impatiently, while I retrieved four more loose batteries from the bag and inserted them into my Canon. Fortunately, they had power enough to shoot a good series of photos while I attempted to imitate a screech owl to get the barred owl to turn its head, look into the camera, and smile.

Since there are so many owls in our little hollow, I hope to get more pictures throughout the year. Perhaps, if I actually go tromping through the woods looking for them, I may get some photos of little owlets.

*    *    *    *

For those of you who enjoy eating a meal of gourmet morels the season is just about over. I suggest that you head out into the woods this week and look for the large yellow morels around old orchards, although I have found them just about anywhere.

*    *    *    *

Spring gobbler season opened Monday for those who like to hunt for turkeys in the morning and morels in the afternoon. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if a turkey hunter had bagged the large emu that was running loose in the county 10 or so years ago. How would he have gotten it into an oven?

*    *    *    *

Although we were spared the worst of last week’s storms, there was still enough power left in them to cause damage to some areas of the county. Trees were blown down in southern Calhoun and there were some power outages. No injuries were reported. The threat of bad weather continues throughout the rest of the week, with temperatures forecast to fall to a more seasonal level.

*    *    *    *

Average retail gasoline prices in West Virginia have risen 4.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.91/gal. This compares with the national average that has increased 2.8 cents in the last week to $3.83/ gal., according to gasoline price website www.WestVirginiaGasPrices.com.

April 21, 2011

Spring is officially on in our hollow. Last weekend, two hummingbirds arrived at the feeder and drank long and deep before flying over to a nearby limb to keep watch for other arrivals. Monday night we heard our first whippoorwills singing their springtime song. Redbud and dogwoods are in full bloom and spring flowers are brightening up the woodlands. You just have to love springtime.

*    *    *    *

The highway department has been grading and graveling county roads to repair the damage from last winter. Pothole repair is also underway.

*    *    *    *

An arcing power line near the Bethlehem Church, east of Grantsville, ignited a brush fire last Friday. Windy conditions, access problems and steep terrain made the job more difficult for volunteer firefighters, but they soon had it under control.

*    *    *    *

According to U.S. Dept. of Labor statistics, Calhoun still leads the state in unemployment. The “not seasonally adjusted” rate for February in Calhoun was 19.9%, a 2.1% improvement over last year’s figure of 22%. The average for the state in the same period was 10.3% for both years. It seems that we have a workforce with no work to do.

Perhaps, someone needs to look into the possibility of getting a manufacturing plant of some kind to move into the county, so folks can find work closer to home.

April 14, 2011

Last weekend, I moved one of our regular bird feeders to a different spot on the deck and hung up a hummingbird feeder. We still haven’t spotted any hummers, but the move has surely confused more than a few chickadees. They land on the hummer feeder and turn their little heads this way and that, peck at the tiny holes made for hummingbird tongues, look in the window at us in disgust, and fly away.

*    *    *    *

Like it or not, it is time to get the mower out and get to work, or, perhaps, buy a goat and move it around the yard until the job is done.

*    *    *    *

Morels are definitely up. I found around 10 last Saturday and have reports of many more being harvested. The best part of morel hunting, for me, is finding that I can still make it to the top of the hill behind our house. I’m not completely convinced that plate tectonics is not still active here in West Virginia. I swear that the top of the hill keeps getting farther and farther away each year.

*    *    *    *

Wildflowers are blooming, fruit trees too. Redbuds have begun to show off their colors and dogwoods tree buds have burst open and should turn white by the end of the week.

*    *    *    *

The planned re-surfacing of Rt. 16 north of Grantsville has begun. The contractor is busy putting in new culverts. Although there will be some inconvenience while the job is being done, I look forward to a smooth road surface until winter weather tears it up again.

*    *    *    *

Koffee Kup Bakery and Pizza shop, at the corner of Main and Florence streets in Grantsville, has re-opened for the summer. It offer donuts, pizza, ice cream, smoothies, milkshakes, subs and bagels.

*    *    *    *

Four people on ATVs ran into some trouble on Sunday when their machines broke down. Thankfully, they were saved by another modern convenience that, while not broken, still needed to be carried to a hilltop so that it could work. Cell phones, when they have service, can be a lifesaver.

April 7, 2011

You just have to love springtime. Last weekend, the weather was alternately good and bad, cold and wet. Temperatures were in the upper 70s on Monday, and then the skies went from gray to black in minutes. The warm air was violently replaced by wind,   hail and rain. The rest of the week should be fine--warmer and beautiful. Just typical spring weather.

*    *    *    *

I spotted a lone, white seagull flying around Grantsville last week. I wonder if he was looking for Jonathan Livingston.

*    *    *    *

On Monday morning, I looked at fruit trees that had full buds on their limbs, but no blossoms. By Monday evening, with the hot weather, some of the trees had bloomed. By the weekend, I will go to the woods on a morel hunt. I expect to find some too.

*    *    *    *

The main roads of Calhoun County are really showing their age after this winter’s abuses. Potholes are getting deeper and bigger. The highway department is strapped for cash and equipment is in short supply.

I think we should take away the governor’s helicopter and have him drive all around the state in a reasonably priced 10-year-old car. Perhaps all of the potholes could shake loose a little cash for road repair.

*    *    *    *

Jeanne and I attended the concert at Calhoun Middle/High School last Friday evening for her birthday. Seats were in short supply. Johnny Staats opened the show with his nimble fingers flying over the strings of his mandolin on some favorite blue-grass tunes.

He told us all to play close attention to a song he wrote, “Don’t Mind the Mule, Just Load the Wagon.” It seems that is the way he feels sometimes while driving his truck on deliveries. It was good to see him play again.

Doyle Lawson and Quick-silver took the stage and held the crowd in thrall for the next two hours. He delivered fast bluegrass, soulful gospel, and down-home humor.

March 31, 2011

Once again, as soon as the forsythia blossoms opened fully, I woke up to find it had snowed on them. They were lucky to be standing at all after the hailstorms that moved through the county over a period of several days. That same cold front also had Calhoun under a tornado watch. Many people were more than a little upset with the change that the cold front made in the weather this week.

*    *    *    *

This is the week of spring break for Calhoun County students and teachers, and the warm weather of the past few weeks had them hoping for more of the same while they had time to enjoy it. Oh well, at least they had time off, even though the temperatures have been downright cold and the weather promises to be nasty for the rest of the week.

*    *    *    *

High winds caused severe damage to the pavilion at Upper West Fork Park. The wind lifted the roof off the pavilion and sent it flying almost a hundred yards away. The wind also dropped a tree on a house near the park that caused even more damage.

*    *    *    *

A structure fire destroyed a residence on Walnut Road last Wednesday. The home of Kenny McCumbers was a total loss, along with all the contents. McCumbers had lived in the home for 15 years with his daughter, who was at school at the time. Thankfully, no one was injured in the blaze.

*    *    *    *

There is a new building at West Fork Park, Arnoldsburg, that will serve as a shelter for vendors and for the country store during the Molasses Festival. It will also be used for special events.

*    *    *    *

The building was funded by West Fork Community Action, with a small grant from Rural Community and Development.

*    *    *    *

Morel mushrooms have begun to pop up in nearby counties, despite the inclement weather. I still have yet to find any.

March 24, 2011

Highs in the 70s, lows in the 30s, heavy rain, hail of differing sizes, thunder, lightning, the promise of snow mixed with rain--you just have to love spring weather for all of its diversity.

*    *    *    *

Spring peepers have been soothing my soul for almost a week now. If only the little morel mushrooms would begin to pop out of the ground.

*    *    *    *

Highway crews were busy attempting to fix a small slip along the new pavement on Town Hill, north of Grantsville, on Monday. The storms that occurred Monday night pretty much negated their efforts.

*    *    *    *

There was a rather large full moon over the weekend, as the moon was the closest it has been to Earth in 18 years. As the disk of the moon passed overhead through the night, it appeared almost as big as it usually does when it is rising and close to the horizon.

It was also so bright on Saturday night that you could go for a walk without a flashlight. The owls really sang their welcome to the brightest moon they will likely ever see.

*    *    *    *

I am anxiously awaiting the sound of the lonesome whippoorwill. I expect we will hear them in a week or so.

*    *    *    *

There has been a change at Pleasant Hill, as Parson’s One Stop has changed hands and is now Momma T’s. The store still sells everything as before, but also has breakfast items for take-out, as well as lunch, dinner and pizza. Plans are in the works for outdoor picnic tables and a shelter, as well as a Zumba room and a tanning bed.

We wish the new owners, Barb and Ed Tingler, much success in their endeavors. As Barb likes to say, “Momma T’s is the place to be.”

March 17, 2011

Spring begins on Sunday, by the calendar, but with temperatures forecast to hit the lower 70’s on Friday, I am inclined to celebrate the season a little early.

*    *    *    *

All of the onion grass is getting quite high in my yard, and it seems that violets will soon be blooming. Our little ramp patch is showing shoots about four inches high. Morels still haunt my dreams. Soon, I will be walking the hills and enjoying the rebirth that comes with spring.

*    *    *    *

There were various flood watches and warnings in the past week, and we did get some serious rain, but we were spared any serious flooding problems.

*    *    *    *

Since the fishing season is upon us, I thought you might find this interesting. Little Kanawha River was the number one musky producer last year, according to figures released by the Husky Musky Club. There were 54 reported legal-size muskies caught in the Little Kanawha, with Stonewall Jackson Lake second at 47. South Fork of the Hughes and the Monongahela had 14 each.

*    *    *    *

Another fire has struck Calhoun. Sunday afternoon, an unoccupied residence burned near the intersection of Rt. 5 and Munday Road. It seems that we went for a while without any fires, but our luck has changed.

*    *    *    *

Many people in Calhoun remember Chuck Smith, a CHS graduate who lived at Mt. Zion, and still has family here. He and his family live in Japan and I was very happy to hear from him that he and his immediate family are all right. I guess FaceBook does have some use after all.

They live about 70 miles south of Tokyo, and, while they felt the earthquake, no tsunamis affected their area. Their ex-tended family lives throughout Japan, and some of them have not yet been heard from. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, as well as all of the people affected by the massive tragedy.

March 10, 2011

Typical March weather has been the norm for the past week. Not bad, followed by high winds and heavy rain, finished off by, you guessed it, snow. The remainder of this week calls for much of the same. Spring comes to us, on the calendar at least, on Sunday, Mar. 20. I suppose, since we have waited this long, we can wait another couple of weeks.

*    *    *    *

Fred “Joe” Whytsell, Jr., of Henry’s Fork, suffered severe burns last Wednesday when he attempted to extinguish a trash fire at his residence. He was badly burned on his lower body and hands, and died Thursday in a Huntington hospital.

*    *    *    *

Don’t forget to “Spring Forward” and set your clocks ahead an hour on Saturday night. The price we pay for an extra hour of daylight in the evening is getting up an hour early in the morning. It is also a good time to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and make sure that they function correctly. Your smoke alarm is not a device to tell you that your dinner is done.

*    *    *    *

Early Saturday morning, a fire broke out in a two-story house on Wigner St., Grantsville, threatening the life of Nina Parsons, who barely escaped the flames. Her brother-in-law, who lives nearby, heard her screaming and managed to rescue her in time. The home was a total loss. The State Fire Marshal is investigating the fire.

*    *    *    *

Another early morning fire struck a home on Pine Creek on Monday. Dale McFarland heard his smoke detector going off around 4 a.m., and escaped the inferno with his dogs. He was prevented by one of the dogs from re-entering the burning residence to retrieve belongings.

*    *    *    *

Unemployment increased in 51 of 55 West Virginia counties in January. Calhoun’s jobless rate of 18.3 percent was the highest in the state.

Unemployment in Clay, Pendleton and Pocahontas decreased, and Webster stayed the same.

March 3, 2011

The hillsides of Calhoun County have taken on a purplish-mauve hue as the buds of all of the trees are beginning to swell so they can burst forth with tiny green leaves in a few weeks. Redbud trees almost seem to glow in the early morning light. Morel mushrooms have begun to haunt my dreams. Spring is only three weeks away.

*    *    *    *

Newton Nichols, editor and sportswriter of The Calhoun Chronicle, was honored as the Media Person of the Year last week by state coaches at the W.Va. High School Wrestling Tournament in Huntington. He was recognized for his 31 years of promoting wrestling through sports writing. His fellow staff members at the Chronicle applaud his achievement.

*    *    *    *

All of the heavy rain we have been receiving had us under flood watches and caused some minor flooding in parts of the county. Arnoldsburg Elementary was threatened twice in the past week by rising waters, which forced the school to move everything to keep it out of the water in case the West Fork flooded the school again.

A news team from Huntington’s WSAZ-3 came to Arnoldsburg and did a report on the flooding problems at the school and about the bond levy election that will be held on Friday.

There was much more rain to our south and heavy snow to the north. May our luck hold through the next round of storms.

*    *    *    *

American Electric Power has suspended the proposed Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) 765-kilovolt transmission line project that would have cut across southern Calhoun County. The project is on hold while the company completes a more rigorous analysis of power transmission requirements.

February 24, 2011

During Monday night’s rain, I observed two signs of spring, a small frog hopping across the road and night crawlers in our yard.

Yellow crocuses are blooming along White Pine Road and forsythia buds are taking on a yellow hue in preparation of bursting forth with canary-colored blossoms, as soon as the weather warms a little more. Of course, as soon as the forsythia blooms, we will likely get another few inches of wet snow. That has been the pattern for the last several years.

*    *    *    *

I was informed on Tuesday morning that some strange looking white birds have been spotted in the Stumptown area. They do not appear to be cranes or egrets, but may be lost seagulls.

*    *    *    *

The pigeons in Grantsville are already sitting on the roof of the courthouse, cooing to each other in hopes of increasing the population again. It appears that someone is working toward de-creasing the number of pigeons in town, since the pigeons are often in the middle of Main Street pecking at food and dodging traffic. So far, the pigeons are winning their battle with cars and trucks, as none have stayed in the road long enough to be struck.

*    *    *    *

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count was held last weekend, and at least three people participated in the Grantsville area. There were no other localities listed this year in Calhoun County, although West Virginia had 508 people who submitted lists. The most species of birds submitted was Huntington where 53 different were reported.

*    *    *    *

Now that we have made progress toward flattening some of the ruts in our road from the thaw, it has started to rain and made the mud so slick that all you can do is aim the car and hope for the best. I guess we will make the ruts deeper now.

February 17, 2011

I have now beheld, with my own eyes, robins flying and hopping about. I saw them in Morgantown, but if they are that far north, they are here as well, and I just have not been paying enough attention.

The plumage on the gold finches is beginning to brighten up and we have been seeing just a hint of early spring “courting behavior” at the feeders.

Our snowdrop flowers are recovering nicely after being buried under the snow since early December, and have already developed flower buds. I expect to see them open before the end of the week. The crocuses have yet to appear.

*    *    *    *

Even though the weather for this week is predicted to be much warmer, I feel that winter is only setting us up for more nasty weather in the future. Get out and enjoy it while you can.

*    *    *    *

A house near the Calhoun/ Roane county line went up in flames on Monday night. It had just been rented and was in the process of being occupied. No one was at home and no injuries were reported.

*    *    *    *

The 14th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will take place Feb. 18-21. This national citizen science project is an opportunity for all to discover the wonders of nature we call birds.

The top five most frequently reported species were northern cardinal, dark-eyed junco, mourning dove, downy woodpecker and blue jay.

Anyone can take part in the count, from novice bird watcher to expert. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online. It’s easy, free and fun.

Results are updated hourly on animated maps and colorful graphs for all to view. For in-formation, visit www.birdcount.org or call 1-800-843-2473.

Last year, 21 species and 292 birds were identified in Grantsville, with 20 species and 406 birds sighted in Orma. Participate with your children and you will all have family fun, while learning more about birds.

February 10, 2011

There is still no change in the weather pattern, with the exception that we were spared being a part of the blizzard that swept across the nation last week. We were on the warm side of the storm and now only suffer from deep, slimy mud.

*    *    *    *

A very trustworthy person told me that she has been seeing robins hopping around Grantsville since early January. I have yet to see them, but I am looking harder now.

*    *    *    *

Since most of the snow around our house melted with the rain last week, we were   able to see where our spring flowers will soon be blooming. The first flowers of the year, Snowdrops, are up. They were bent down from trying to rise through snow and ice, but should be blooming in a week or so.

 *    *    *    *

I saw my first SmartCar parked along the streets of Grantsville on Tuesday. From seeing them on television, I knew they were small, but until you stand beside one, “small” is a relative term. It appears there is room for two people and, perhaps, a poodle. I have driven larger ATVs than that. While I am certain that the gas mileage must be incredible, I cannot imagine being in a SmartCar in a head-on collision.

*    *    *    *

Judy Wolfram, writer of the column “Waste Not, Want Not” reports that the trusty 1926 Chevy truck with the heater that will blast you out, mentioned in her column last week, was a typo. It is actually a 1976 Chevy. She did say that it was the vehicle that she and husband Frank trusted the most when the roads were bad, and a trip to town was unavoidable.

February 3, 2011

Groundhog Day was Feb. 2, and since that is the day the paper is produced, I do not have the predictions from two of the most famous groundhogs, French Creek Freddie or Punxsutawney Phil. The forecast for Feb. 2 was for rain, or snow, or ice, or a combination of all three. Regardless of what the groundhogs say, my prediction is that we are going to have more winter weather. Spring is less than seven weeks away. Surely we can all hang on that long.

*    *    *    *

It seems that some of the birds hanging around our feeders are beginning to sing songs that I associate with spring. They sing a longer, livelier song, and they are beginning to show signs of spring aggressiveness. Robins may be hopping around the fields in a few weeks. I hope they bring their little tiny snowshoes.

*    *    *    *

Wednesday through Friday was wicked for local drivers. The snow made road conditions so bad that the Calhoun County Office of Emergency Services advised everyone to stay off the roads, except for emergency travel. Semi-trucks were stuck on hills and cars were in the ditches everywhere. Main roads were being treated as fast as the trucks could travel from one end of the county to the other, but secondary roads were still treacherous. Schools were also closed due to the snow.

*    *    *    *

Main roads around the county are showing signs of nature’s abuse. Snowplows catch the edges of cracked areas of pavement and remove chunks of road, along with the snow, which makes potholes that much deeper and longer. With all the snow that has fallen, there has been a lot of plowing done to keep the roads open. Highway department trucks are doing their best to fill in some of the worst potholes, whenever weather permits, but the weather hasn’t been cooperating much. Some progress is being made.

*    *    *    *

A 52-year-old Stutler Ridge man, Tim Carpenter, rolled over an all-terrain vehicle somewhere between Little Creek Road and Rt. 5 on Tuesday afternoon of last week. He was flown by HealthNet to CAMC, after sustaining a dislocated shoulder and broken collarbone.

January 27, 2011

Yes indeed, there is snow on the ground and more on the way. Spring begins this year on March 20. I wonder how much more snow we will see before then.

*    *    *    *

State Police arrested a teller at the Glenville branch of Calhoun Banks last Thursday. Florence Parker, 27, of Gassaway, was charged with 29 counts of falsifying accounts and three counts of embezzlement. The investigation began last November after three customers who operated vending machine businesses, noticed that the total deposited was always less than their count when Parker counted the money. Parker was arraigned in Gilmer County Magistrate court and released on bond.

*    *    *    *

On Jan. 17, 1966, the fire siren in Grantsville started going off and kept going for longer than usual. I lived close to where the swimming pool used to be and went out on the back porch to see if I could see anything.

From my vantage point, it looked like the hospital was burning. When I ran toward town, I saw that it was the block of buildings along Main St. from where J&B Drug now stands to where the Family History Center is today.

The fire was so hot, it melted windows in the old Rainbow Hotel and in the Calhoun Super Service new car display area. Over one million dollars of damage resulted from the devastating fire. There was no loss of life and no serious injuries.

The next year, Grantsville suffered through the worst flood in its history.

*    *    *    *

A new book has been released for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, “Civilian War in West Virginia: The Moccasin Rangers.”

Written by George A. Hall, it concerns the Moccasin Ranger engagements in central West Virginia. It covers the history of Moccasin Ranger personalities, and leading Union companies that pursued them from Calhoun to Greenbrier counties, and all points in between.

The “Snake Hunters” and “Salem Rifles” of the Union forces shoot it out with Con-federate luminaries such as Perry Conley, the Douglas brothers, Nancy Hart, and George Downs.

Research sheds more light on the legendary Nancy Hart, her exploits, and her marriage to Joshua Douglas.

January 20, 2011

By the end of last week, there was over a foot of snow on our deck. Wednesday afternoon, I hiked about a half mile on White Pine Road and I swear it snowed two inches during the short period of time it took me to do it.

I thought about getting my camera out to take some pictures, but it was snowing so hard I couldn’t see more than 20 feet in any direction. If I had taken a picture, it would have looked as if I had photographed a white wall. As far as I am concerned, it was a mini-blizzard, and it occurred several more times that afternoon after I was home.

*    *    *    *

As I write this, the forecast is calling for more snow on Tuesday night and “accumulating” snow by the end of the week. Since we were only supposed to get a few inches last Wednesday, I will try to be ready for whatever we receive this time.

*    *    *    *

The birds that visit our house are so happy that we can still afford to feed them that it makes them want to sing. It’s too bad that owls don’t eat sunflower seeds, because we hear their mournful cries occasionally at night. The owls probably hang around our house hoping to snatch the fat, sleeping songbirds from their perch at night. I guess, in a way, we are feeding the owls.

*    *    *    *

The extreme winter weather we have experienced so far this year has caused a shortage of material for treatment of icy highways. Department of High-ways trucks have been through Grantsville empty, and return with what appears to be salt in hopes of having enough material on hand to keep the roads open later this week. The crews has also been applying hot-patch to some of the nastier holes in local roads, when the weather gives them a chance.

*    *    *    *

A Grantsville man, 21-year-old Derek Brannon, was arrested in Ripley and charged with attempting to operate a clandestine drug lab. Brannon was arrested, along with a 22- year-old Gandeeville woman, after they bought quantities of materials used in making methamphetamine. Arresting officers found more ingredients upon searching the couple’s car.

*    *    *    *

Black ice surprised an 18- year-old driver early Tuesday morning. The driver lost control of a pick-up truck on Rt. 16 south of Grantsville. No one was reported injured in the accident.

January 13, 2011

For those who reminisce about the way winter used to be, there is no longer any reason for fond memories. You can make some new ones by just looking out the window.

Once again, the ground at our house is covered with six inches of snow, and we are due to receive even more of the fluffy, white rain. As I am writing this, the weather service is calling for up to seven more inches of snow before the weekend. Schools in Roane and Calhoun counties were forced to send students home three hours early on Tuesday. Now, if I could only remember where I stored my snowshoes so very long ago.

*    *    *    *

In addition to the usual entourage frequenting our bird feeders, the chickadees, flickers, downy and red headed woodpeckers, goldfinches, nuthatches, juncos, sparrows and the occasional night-visiting flying squirrels, we are now seeing daily visits from some beautiful grosbeaks.

All of the birds retreat to nearby branches when I go out on the deck to refill the feeders, and they sing songs of joy as the sunflower seeds rise, once again, to the top. It is a worthwhile effort keeping them fed through these harsh winters, as we get to watch their antics at the feeders and hear their songs of thanks.

*    *    *    *

Shelby Davis, 21, of Big Springs was arrested in the early hours of New Year’s Day for multiple offences after entering a house and threatening the occupants. The owner of the house held Davis at gunpoint until police arrived to take him into custody. After being removed from the house, Davis began cursing the officers and attempted to fight them. Perhaps there were a few too many toasts to the New Year before this event.

*    *    *    *

Fire destroyed a home near Orma on Crooked Run last weekend. The family residing in the home escaped after a three-year-old child awoke to find the house engulfed in smoke and fire. The four occupants ran from the burning structure with only the clothes on their backs.

*    *    *    *

A car overturned in a sharp curve on Rts. 33/119, near Speedy Mart, Arnoldsburg, on Monday afternoon. Although the car wound up on its top in the ditch, no injuries were reported.

January 6, 2011

There was snow cover on our yard for almost the entire month of December. There is still a spot of ice, here and there, but I guess I will have to wait until the end of the week before the ground is once again covered beneath a white, fluffy quilt.

*    *    *    *

The wild birds that frequent our feeders seem to be happy with the no-snow situation. They can now find things to eat in the woods and fields and are not emptying the feeders in one day. I can afford that.

*    *    *    *

There are some opossums that are about to die of lead poisoning. They won’t take a hint. I have smacked them hard with a walking stick in an attempt to keep from coming onto our decks at night. Now they come in the daytime and in the night and they are not long for this world. I suppose that after I “do the deed,” I will at least give them a proper burial.

*    *    *    *

Last Saturday evening, police in Grantsville stopped a Dodge truck for reckless driving and, while officer Joey Garrett, was radioing in the stop, the driver stomped on the gas and drove away. Garrett was joined in the pursuit by another Grantsville policeman, Rob Bradley, while the truck sped west on Rt. 5.

According to the officers, the chase reached speeds close to 90 miles per hour before the alleged driver of the vehicle, Willie S. Nicholson of Clarksburg, lost control in a curve near Cabot Station and collided with four parked cars, causing considerable damage to all of them. The truck flipped over onto its top.

Garrett came around the curve as Nicholson was exiting the upside-down truck and steered off the highway to avoid running over the man.

Nicholson fled the scene on foot, but was captured a short distance from the scene. He was arraigned Sunday in magistrate court on felony counts for fleeing in a vehicle while driving under the influence and third-offense driving under suspension.

He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of fleeing on foot, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, reckless driving, obstruction of justice, driving too fast for road conditions, improper registration, no registration, and no insurance. His bond was set at $15,000.

*    *    *    *

While the price of gas around Calhoun County does vary, and is over $3 a gallon, we just returned from Morgantown on Monday and the price displayed along the interstate went as high as $3.38. Whatever the market will bear, I guess.

December 23, 2010

No matter that the calendar says that winter officially began Dec. 21, as far as I am concerned, it began around Dec. 1, when snow began to accumulate on our decks. It is still there with more on the way.

We had to make a trip to Morgantown last Thursday and the roads were atrocious, both going and returning, although they were much worse on the return trip. It took all of the courage of our daughter Amy,   a new all-wheel-drive Ford Escape, and over four hours to come home.

*    *    *    *

All in all, I would much rather walk in snow than drive on roads where the lines cannot be seen for the snow and slush.

*    *    *    *

Calhoun schools were closed Thursday and Friday last week due to excessive snowfall. I am sure the children were upset over having two days to play in the snow, instead of attending school.

*    *    *    *

The forecast, at press time, is calling for snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Be sure to dress warmly and drive carefully, if you plan to make visits on Christmas.

*    *    *    *

Fire destroyed a mobile home located near Chloe last Friday afternoon. No one was home at the time of the blaze. The structure was a total loss.

*    *    *    *

State Police have arrested a 20 year-old Five Forks man, Zachary Wease, who escaped from home confinement last June, after being charged with arson of a house belonging to Norma Joy Freshour. Wease had been on home confinement for grand larceny and is the first Calhoun home confinement case to attempt escape in the county. He was found and arrested after police received a tip.

December 16, 2010

I like snow. Snow makes the world look pure and white, instead of bland and muddy. On the other hand, I am not so fond of bitter cold. On Tuesday morning, it was cold enough to freeze the flame off a candle.

 *    *    *    *

While schools were closed on Monday due to snow-covered roads, on Tuesday morning, they were on a two-hour delay due to temperatures that were, with the wind chill factor, below zero. Birds flocking to our feeders have the appearance of being very fat, due to the way they ruffle their feathers in an attempt to keep warm. You know it is much too cold outside when your moustache freezes to your camera tripod when taking photos of snowy landscapes.

 *    *    *    *

Another thing you can see in fresh snow is animal tracks. There used to be squirrel, rabbit, grouse, fox and deer tracks crisscrossing our road.

This year, there are very few tracks. We have spotted two squirrels, twice, hanging onto the same tree. I hope that this winter does not eliminate wildlife the way last winter did--or next year, there will be no tracks to follow.

  *    *    *    *

An Orma man, Edward Barrera, 87, who was found dead in his house last week, left 32 dogs for the sheriff’s department to deal with, mostly pit bulls. Officials estimate Barrera had been dead for two or three weeks.

Animal control officer Bob Groves found some dogs that had died from a lack of water and food, and notified the Humane Society. Its investigator allegedly found equipment that can be used to train dogs for illegal dog fights. The Humane Society removed and placed most of the surviving animals.

Earlier this year, Barrera was arrested in Jackson County with over a pound of marijuana, making him one of the oldest people ever to be arrested in the state on a drug charge.

 *    *    *    *

Richard Vance, the man accused of robbing the Arnolds-burg Branch of Calhoun Banks, waived a preliminary hearing on Monday in magistrate court. The case will move to circuit court and be taken before a grand jury.

 *    *    *    *

A 230-lb black bear was killed on Crummies Creek last week by Douglas Rush, who killed a 500-lb. bear last year.

December 9, 2010

Last Thursday afternoon a mobile home decided that it had been mobile long enough and rolled over onto its side on Rt. 16 in a sharp curve on Millstone Hill. The road was one-lane for a few hours and had to be closed while the trailer was up-righted.

*    *    *    *

Even though the official start of winter is two weeks away, by the measure of the snow on our deck, it is here already. Tuesday morning, the snow measured six inches on the railing and three inches in the yard. I guess the prognosticating wooly worms, which were all black this fall, may be right about how this winter is going to go.

*    *    *    *

The snow forced a two-hour delay of Calhoun County schools on Monday, and schools were closed due to bad road conditions on Tuesday.

*    *    *    *

Lots of birds have been flocking to our feeders. Some of the more impatient finches and chickadees have been fighting for space on the tube style feeder. The bigger birds and woodpeckers go to the large feeders, while the cats crouch on the ground beneath dreaming of a hot, feathery meal. The birds ruin their day by tossing them sunflower seed hulls.

*    *    *    *

Ted Schartiger of Massillon, Ohio, a native of Calhoun, went for a walk last Thursday from a hunting cabin at Frozen. His intent was to travel to a cemetery on Bear Fork where his parents are buried, and take some pictures. Evidently, he became disoriented and failed to return to the cabin.

A search and rescue effort began around 8 p.m. Thursday that involved 20 to 30 people who searched through the night, as temperatures dropped into the 20s, with light snow falling. Four rescue dogs and handlers were in on the hunt. Schartiger was found early Friday morning several miles into the Bear Fork wilderness, with no injuries and one heck of a story to tell.

December 2, 2010

As deer season continues into the second week, it seems that the weather is keeping this year’s total kills down below normal levels. It has been too warm and sometimes rainy.

The forecast for the middle of this week, and perhaps Saturday, calls for the skies to be filled with fluffy, white precipitation. That should help with deer hunting. Even though most folks don’t like snow, I think I like it better than mud.

*    *    *    *

The home of Rick Alderman, local electrical contractor of Altizer Road, burned to the ground last week. The cause of the fire was a hot water tank. Alderman thought he had managed to quench the fire. Apparently, it had gotten into the wall or ceiling and totally destroyed the home. Alderman and his well-known German shepherd, Bob, escaped without injury.

 *    *    *    *

A man from the Chloe area died last week while deer hunting in the woods near Oka Road after suffering a possible heart attack.

*    *    *    *

All of the birds that like to spend the winter at our house have begun their annual feasting. We have three feeders that have to be filled almost daily. A large one that holds almost five pounds lasts almost a week. If this coming winter is anything like the last one, I hope we can afford to keep feeding them all winter.

*    *    *    *

Don’t miss the annual Calhoun County Christmas parade on Friday at 6 p.m. in Grantsville. Santa will be there so that the little ones can tell him what they want for Christmas. Come early and shop for gifts at the Country Christmas Craft Show in the courthouse or at the crafters shop in the former Garland’s Grocery on Main St.

November 25, 2010

The annual West Virginia holiday, known as deer season, opened Monday morning at daybreak. If you were unaware that the hunt was about to begin, I am sure you knew it had started when you awoke to the sound of gunfire echoing through the hills.

Although I have not seen as many deer as I usually do at this time of the year, I am confident that many hunters will feast on venison soon.

*    *    *    *

Weather over the weekend was nice, as it also was for the first day of deer season. The rest of Thanksgiving week should be rainy, for which we should give thanks. I look forward to small streams filling the space between their banks. It has been too dry around here for much too long.

*    *    *    *

The long-drawn out case of Ronnie Rush, who recently pled guilty to the murder of Ward Groves and Mary Hicks of Sand Ridge, has finally come to an end. Rush was sentenced last Friday in Ripley to serve 30 years in prison.

Rush was convicted twice for the 2003 murders in earlier trials, but the convictions were overturned by the State Supreme Court due to errors committed.

*    *    *    *

Sixty-five years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22, 1945, there was a terrible explosion at Cabot Station that almost completely destroyed the natural gas compressor plant located there. Two Calhoun men, Elijah Nester and Junior Hawkins, were killed.

The explosion blew open some doors in Grantsville, nearly three miles away, and rattled windows and knocked pictures from walls up to 10 miles away. The fire raging into the night sky was seen from as far away as Harrisville.

The exact cause of the disaster was never determined, but it was speculated that it was caused by a spark initiated from metal to metal contact.

November 18, 2010

I believe that we have now had our Indian summer. Last weekend, the weather was warm and sunny--and this occurred after water was frozen in buckets and puddles outside for three straight days.

*    *    *    *

The news is not good concerning the weather prognostication caterpillars. Every fuzzy little caterpillar I have seen so far this fall has been completely black. Most years, you will see them with some brown on them somewhere, but not this year. If I remember correctly, this means a cold, bad winter all the way until spring. Sort of like last year, I guess.

*    *    *    *

Christopher Todd Smith of Grantsville pled guilty this week in magistrate court for destruction of property belonging to Grantsville mayor Gary Knight. He was sentenced to 30 days in Central Regional Jail, with credit for time served, and fined  $165.80 in court costs. Smith faces several other unrelated charges in Calhoun and Lewis counties.

*    *    *    *

There were some brush fires in the county last week, but none of them got out of hand. Remember the burning laws, so you don’t have to pay fines for burning when you shouldn’t.

*    *    *    *

Gathering firewood turned tragic last Saturday morning when a 16-year-old Nicut boy suffered third degree burns to various areas of his body. He was flown to the burn center at Cabell Huntington Hospital and then to a burn center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

*    *    *    *

Sheriff Park Richards was shot and killed while serving a mental hygiene warrant 34 years ago on Nov. 18. Rt. 16 from Grantsville to the Ritchie county line was named Park Richards Memorial Highway to honor him in 2006.

November 11, 2010

There was hail falling last Thursday night at our house, followed by rather large grains of sleet on Friday afternoon. It seems that winter is closing in on us.

*    *    *    *

Even though I like the extra hour of sleep we now enjoy, after returning to standard   time, I miss the hour of light   we had to give away in the evening. Perhaps we should just go a half-hour forward next spring and leave it alone after that.

*    *    *    *

The Leonid meteor shower will occur Wednesday night into Thursday morning, Nov. 17-18. It normally produces 40 or more per hour at its peak and is best known for producing large fireballs that leave “plasma trails” in the sky in their wake. Some of the trails remain visible for as long as five minutes after the meteor has passed. You may see more than the average number of meteors from Nov. 13-20.

*    *    *    *

A Philips Run man was awakened by smoke last Saturday morning. Although unharmed, he suffered from smoke inhalation. Grantsville Volunteer Fire Dept. was able to bring the fire under control with a minimum of structural damage.

*    *    *    *

A juvenile from Roane County has been arrested in the Spencer area after attempting to steal a car. He is a suspect in the alleged theft of five vehicles in Calhoun, which he used for joyriding.

*    *    *    *

Joshua Boswell of Orma was shot in the face with a small caliber pistol early last Thurs-day. He reportedly opened his door after someone knocked around 1:45 a.m., and was allegedly shot by a hooded, masked person, who immediately fled the scene. State Police are investigating the shooting and have already talked to some suspects. Boswell is reported to be in fair condition at Charleston Area Medical Center.

November 4, 2010

The big storm that moved through the area last week brought a lot of wind and some rain, but seemed to pretty much go around us. There were scattered reports of the wind moving furniture, empty above ground pools, and basketball stands, but nothing major.

*    *    *    *

We are now enjoying typical fall weather, although I heard that light snow is in the forecast for the mountains this week.

*    *    *    *

Weather for Saturday’s Halloween activities allowed all of the little ghosts, goblins and other fearsome creatures to gather candy, while scaring their elders. Hopefully, the little monsters remembered to brush their teeth.

*    *    *    *

State police responded to a complaint on Altizer Road last week in connection with a reported shooting. Daniel Hudson, 51, was charged with domestic battery and wanton endangerment, after allegedly firing a .38 caliber pistol four or five times at the car of the victim, who was, until then, his domestic partner. The woman was unhurt, but one tire was hit and deflated.

*    *    *    *

I’m sure that everyone is thankful that the election madness has passed for another two years. I have never seen so much mud slinging in my life. There were three and four robo-calls coming on our phone each day, along with so-called push-polls that ask questions that really have no correct answer, and could be counted on coming almost every evening. If this is the way that politics will play out in the future, I think that I will have my phone taken out before the next election. I shudder to think how many trees were used to make the paper for all of the mailings that came in. I did recycle every political piece of mail so that the trees did not die in vain.

*    *    *    *

An Arnoldsburg man, Brian Burrows, has been charged with conspiracy to commit theft in connection with an ATV that was allegedly stolen for the second time in a year. Another warrant was issued for the arrest of another man in connection with the theft.

October 28, 2010

Once again, we have had frost in the mornings and beautiful weather the rest of the day over the weekend.

Tuesday morning, the sky was a bright pink, quickly shading to red. The old adage, “Red sky in morning, sailors take warning,” comes to mind, especially with a forecast for severe thunderstorms on Tuesday night. In the afternoon, it was a balmy 75 degrees, with blustery winds. We will have to see what the storms bring us later.

*    *    *    *

There will be a new place to eat in Grantsville on Saturday, when Koffee Kup opens a pizzeria on the corner where the bakery used to be. The menu has not been finalized yet, but insiders say they will also serve subs and other items.

*    *    *    *

The former Pursley Furniture building was purchased recently by two men who are reportedly looking to open a consignment shop on the main floor, with rental apartments on the top floor.

*    *    *    *

The man accused of murdering a Calhoun County couple, Mike and Julie Flanagan, entered a plea of guilty on two counts of first degree murder last week in a pre-trial hearing held in Mason County. Kirk Miller of Salem will be sentenced on each charge and will serve no less than 30 years in prison.

*    *    *    *

For those who like to hunt deer, but have families that don’t like the taste of venison, there is a program in place that can help you feed the needy. Hunters Helping the Hungry was started in 1992, sponsored by W.Va. Dept. of Natural Resources. The program offers a way for hunters to donate legally harvested deer venison to needy families. For information on how you can donate your deer, and the location of a participating deer processor near you, call Mountaineer Food Bank, Gassaway, 364-5518.

October 21, 2010

The little rain we received last Friday was welcome, but the chill that came along with it only reminds us that winter is just a few weeks away. The leaves are still turning color and almost seem to glow in the sunset or sunrise. The only problem is that they keep piling up in eave troughs and yards.

*    *    *    *

Although some hunters have been bagging squirrels, I have been told that there are not very many of them running in the woods this year. It seems that last fall’s meager crop of nuts and last winter’s snow caused many of them to perish. There are plenty of nuts this year, so those that survive the hunters will have plenty to eat.

*    *    *    *

A juvenile was apprehended for the theft and joyriding of five vehicles last weekend. Everyone is reminded not to leave keys or valuables in their vehicles to help prevent things like this from happening.

*    *    *    *

Work on the new Corder Bridge on Rt. 33/119 continues, with approaches and piers built. We look forward to the day when the new bridge is opened.

*    *    *    *

There will be a hearing in Grantsville on Monday, Nov. 15, for Kirk Allen Miller, who was indicted in February for the 2009 murder of Mike and Julie Flanagan on Sycamore Creek.

*    *    *    *

U.S. Marshals and the FBI are now involved in the Arnoldsburg bank robbery. The police are looking for Richard Vance, who was involved in a burglary case in Roane County in 2008, and was placed on three years probation for receiving stolen property. If you know his whereabouts, call the W.Va. State Police, 354-6334.

October 14, 2010

Sometimes, you wish you could buy good weather, but no one could possibly afford the weather we have been having. Crisp, cool nights and warm, sunny days, with the tang of Fall in the air just can’t be beat.

Many trees have begun to show off their colorful autumn coats. We had better get out and enjoy them now; they won’t last another couple of weeks.

My favorite, I suppose, is the maple tree. They range in color from dusty brown through yellow and all the way to a scarlet so bright, it makes you squint when you see them in bright sunlight.

*    *    *    *

There has been a warrant issued for a man who State Police say is the prime suspect in the recent armed robbery of the Arnoldsburg branch of Calhoun Banks. Police are looking for Richard Vance, 21, originally from Lincoln County, who had been living in the Orma area. Vance has been charged with first degree armed robbery and the theft of an ATV from a residence near Walnut. If anyone has information about Vance, they can call the State Police, 354-6334.

*    *    *    *

There was a rash of vehicle thefts over the weekend in southern Calhoun County. State Police say that five vehicles were stolen and possibly used for joyrides, since they were found abandoned. Police remind everyone to remove valuables and keys from their vehicles.

*    *    *    *

A resurfacing project on Rt. 16 North of Grantsville has begun. Culverts are being dug up and replaced, causing a few delays for traffic. Travelers can look forward to a smooth road surface that won’t crumble in just one winter.

*    *    *    *

There are many activities happening around West Virginia this weekend. Spencer is hosting the 56th West Virginia Black Walnut Festival, Oct. 14-17. The 32nd Bridge Day will be held at New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville on Saturday. Air Expo will be held at Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport in Wood County on Sunday.

October 7, 2010

Now that computers are one of the main tools of everyday existence, it is no fun when you find your tool broken. I am sure I am not alone among folks who suffered through the power surges in Grantsville’s power grid recently. All those who had computer problems have my sympathy. What a pain it is to attempt to get help from someone in India who is only trying to make a living.

*    *    *    *

The weather lately has been appropriate for this time of year, cold and miserable. It is supposed to improve greatly by the weekend, so I suggest you go out and enjoy it. Soon, there will be frost on the rooftops and then there will be snow on the ground.

*    *    *    *

West Virginia’s fall forest fire season runs through Dec. 31. Outdoor burning is prohibited from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Now that squirrel season is about to start, remember to be careful with fire and matches while hunting in the woods. Make sure you extinguish any cigarettes, and put the butts in your pocket so you don’t litter.

 *    *    *    *

There were numerous State Police vehicles in the county last week, but whatever they were here for has not been released for publication. They were accompanied by at least one helicopter, which flew over Grantsville and other areas of the county several times.

*    *    *    *

If the rain and wind don’t knock all of the leaves from the trees, we should begin to see good fall colors in another week or so.

*    *    *    *

Our goldfinches are no longer gold. They have already adapted to their winter colors, changing from bright yellow to a ruddy, grayish brown in a matter of a few weeks. Many species of birds are feeding on sunflower seeds at our feeder. The lone hummingbird has been absent for three days now.

*    *    *    *

Tax liens for tracts or lots of land or undivided interests therein in Calhoun, which are delinquent for the nonpayment of 2009 taxes total $78,319. Sale for those not redeemed will be held Friday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

September 30, 2010

There was more excitement in Grantsville last Thursday morning caused by power surges. An electric pole caught fire in front of the library and major surges came through power lines causing many problems in the end of town not affected by blown transformers the preceding week. Electronic machinery was fried in several businesses and surge protectors were thanked for saving some electronics.

*    *    *    *

Fall weather has been the norm for the past week, with the exception of a few hot days in mid-week. The forecast calls for more mild weather heading into next week.

*    *    *    *

Computer problems have plagued me all week, so please excuse this short report.

September 23, 2010

Autumnal equinox occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 11:09 p.m., when the Sun appeared to cross the celestial equator, from north to south. It marked the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. In other words, Fall has fell.

In the language of science, an equinox is either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. For the rest of us, it’s one of two times a year when the Sun crosses the equator and the day and night are of approximately equal length.

*    *    *    *

Severe weather moved into the area last Thursday evening, after causing severe damage elsewhere. Although there were tornado watches issued and reports of minor damage in Calhoun, we were at the tail-end of the system and got off lightly.

*    *    *    *

A transformer exploded on Main St., Grantsville, last Thursday, just before the storm hit, causing power outages that lasted through Friday.

*    *    *    *

A local couple, Chris and Amy Nicholas, were at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, on Thursday for medical tests, when they were suddenly locked into their examination room due to a gunman shooting a doctor on the eighth floor of the building they were in. After a few hours of lockdown and worry, the police found the gunman in a room where he had taken the life of his paralyzed mother, and then his own.

*    *    *    *

For those of you who are wondering when you should take down your hummingbird feeders, the answer is when you do not see any hummingbirds for two weeks. They are in the midst of their annual migration, and your feeder can give them more “nectar” than the flowers that are currently blooming.

This is also the time of the year when you might be able to see migrating hummingbirds other than the traditional ruby throated. A few western species of hummingbirds occasionally pass through our area including the rufous, Allen’s, Anna’s, calliope and white eared hummingbirds. Some folks even leave their feeders out until Christmas.

*    *    *    *

Drivers should be aware that deer are about to enter the rut season. Now is when we will see them running across roads in single file or just standing in the road in a herd. When their minds are on females, they can be just as stupid as humans.

*    *    *    *

Due to complications of a kidney stone and being hospitalized, Chronicle editor Newton Nichols missed his first Calhoun Red Devils’ football game in  31 years. Ironically, the final score of the game he missed was 31-0. Makes you think, doesn’t it.

September 16, 2010

Fall weather is still the norm, although we did receive some much-needed rain on Monday evening. The weather should remain autumn-like throughout into the weekend.

*    *    *    *

The annual marijuana eradication program conducted by West Virginia State Police got underway last week with a helicopter flying low over many areas of Calhoun County. State Police reported 252 plants were found on Laurel Creek, Pine Creek, Right Fork of Crummies Creek, and two miles East of Grantsville, near Rt. 5. Arrests are pending.

*    *    *    *

William Seth Denmark of Beech had a charge of kidnapping dropped last week by a grand jury that did indict him with one count of malicious assault and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony.

Denmark had been charged with holding Veronica Cottrill at gunpoint while he buried the body of a missing Roane County man, David Beach.

Also facing criminal charges in relation to the case are Denmark’s parents, William Anthony Denmark and Jackie Lynn Denmark.

*    *    *    *

A tanker truck carrying fuel was involved in an accident near Stinson last Friday afternoon. A car was sideswiped in a sharp turn on Rt. 16. There were no injuries reported.

*    *    *    *

A fire destroyed the home of Pearl King of Leatherbark last Saturday night. She was visiting in Jackson County when the fire started. The State Fire Marshal is looking into the possible cause of the fire.

*    *    *    *

For those looking for something to do outdoors this weekend, there is Tannerfest on Friday and Saturday at the old school in Tanner.

There is also the Clay County Golden Delicious Festival, celebrating the birthplace of the Golden Delicious apple, from Thursday through Sunday.

September 9, 2010

Around Calhoun County, we have just experienced a  taste of fall. After a cold front moved through the area on Friday and brought thunderstorms and rain, morning temperatures were in the lower forties during the weekend.

The miniature cold snap has my remaining hummingbirds filling up for their long journey south.

Squirrels were barking orders to each other each morning and spent their days rushing through the treetops knocking down nuts for winter storage.

Some bucks with impressive racks are beginning to run together, but they will soon begin to fight for territory and does.

*    *    *    *

Fire razed a mobile home on Walnut last Tuesday evening. Firefighters remained at the scene for some time to put out fires that had spread to other structures on the property.

*    *    *    *

The second annual Calhoun Days will be held this weekend and promises to be bigger and better than last year.

There will be plenty to see and do for the entire family, including Union and Confederate civil war encampments, re-enactments of the Battle of Sycamore, cannon firings, contests of skill, and a performance by fiddler Lester McCumbers.

Calhoun Historical Society will open up Heritage Village to educate everyone on how our ancestors lived, worked and played.

September 2, 2010

I guess hummingbirds can read. Since I mentioned how much they were costing me in sugar water, their numbers have been drastically reduced. Now, there are only three or four flitting about. Actually, they are already beginning their annual migration to warmer southern climates. I will leave the feeder out though, because some of them coming this way from the north stop by for a drink and a day of rest. Now is also a good time to fill your regular bird feeder to satisfy the hunger of all the other migratory birds that travel our area.

*    *    *    *

Rather large preying mantises have been stalking Main Street in Grantsville for a couple of weeks. They seem to hang out in front of the bank. I hope they are not planning something.

*    *    *    *

On Sunday, I went fishing. It was a beautiful day to go fishing, but not a good day to catch fish. I caught three rather small ones and ran into a fellow angler who was using an artificial bait that was slightly bigger than the fish I caught. I suppose it felt like he was catching one with every cast.

*    *    *    *

Parents dropping off children at Pleasant Hill School and Arnoldsburg Elementary need to remember that they cannot drive past school buses that are stopped in front of the school with their lights flashing. They are also dropping off students, and the same law applies in the parking lot as on the highway.

*    *    *    *

The weather has been absolutely beautiful for the past week: no rain and not too hot to sleep. The lack of rain also helps to stretch the time between yard work, so that I will only need to mow a couple of more times before the snow flies.

August 26, 2010

Temperatures have dropped back down to a more comfortable level this week, with only a slight rise in the forecast by the end of the week. There may also be a little bit of rain in the mix, somewhere in the middle.

*    *    *    *

Monarch butterflies are now laying their eggs on milkweed plants for the fall hatch, which will then somehow navigate all the way to Mexico. Seems like a long way for a fragile little insect to fly, but I guess enough of them get there to make it quite the vacation spot for monarchs.

*    *    *    *

To answer a question that was on many lips last week, I was informed of the reason that Grantsville’s garbage was piled in the parking lot last week: Environmental Protection Agency regulations and a broke down truck.

Since household garbage can routinely contain some hazardous waste, such as leftover bug spray or paint, old prescription drugs, etc., that need to stay out of groundwater, there are regulations regarding their disposal.

During an emergency situation, such as a broken truck, when household waste cannot be taken to an approved landfill and garbage must be stored outside of an approved dumpster or dumpsite, it cannot be stored on topsoil. If it is, the soil must be removed and disposed of along with the garbage.

Waste may be piled on paved surfaces as long as the paved surface is treated after the trash is removed. This must be done to ensure that leaking trash bags do not contaminate the ground where they sit, and continue to contaminate groundwater with each rain thereafter.

The town has no other site suitable for emergency storage of household waste.

*    *    *    *

If you are looking for something to do on Saturday, why not go to Mt. Zion, the center of the world, and attend the 51st annual Ox Roast--before or after you vote in the special election. There will be plenty of mouth-watering food and it is a good time to visit friends and neighbors. Even the weather should be fine.

August 19, 2010

I am sure that you are as tired of hearing about it as I am, but it has been nothing but hot around these parts. Even though the thermometer has not reached 100 degrees, it has consistently been in the upper 80s and mid to lower 90s and, along with very high humidity, it has been quite uncomfortable.

*    *    *    *

Going to the library on Tuesday, I couldn’t help but notice that someone from the Town of Grantsville had finally painted white along the curb    in front of the building to mark a legal parking space. Un-fortunately, the paint was applied to the wrong side of the street.

The curb opposite the library was inadvertently painted yellow, which made what had been a legal parking spot into an illegal one, with one ticket having already been issued. Sources report that the proper town officials had been notified and that the problem would soon be rectified.

*    *    *    *

This year has been very good for hummingbirds. There are so many at our feeder that we cannot count them. They are always moving too fast and seem to be fighting amongst themselves most of the time.

We have counted 10 at one time sitting on the feeder, with more hovering about impatiently waiting their turn. I do know that they can drink almost a quart of homemade nectar a day. I hope they appreciate it, because sugar isn’t cheap. They should all be leaving shortly after the first of next month for their winter vacation in Central America.

August 12, 2010

We needed a break from the heat. We needed some rain. What we got were two of the most severe thunderstorms of the summer. High winds, lots of lightning and torrential downpours tore through the county last week, but caused surprisingly little damage considering the potential of the two storms.

*    *    *    *

Looking at the trees surrounding our yard, I have discovered that our black walnut trees have no walnuts again this year, despite there being some trees in other areas of the county with the largest hulls I’ve ever seen. The hazelnut trees are heavily laden already. Acorns and hickory nuts are also doing well. The squirrels that survived last winter should be eating well this fall.

*    *    *    *

If you find yourself wanting to go out and get amongst the people this weekend, you have at least two choices that are close by. The Upper West Fork firemen are sponsoring their annual bluegrass festival from Thursday through Saturday.          

There will be plenty of good music and good times.

Creston Homecoming will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. to honor the historic river town and remember life the way it was back then. It would be a good place to share old photos and memories.

*    *    *    *

In the spirit of community, Kaye Yoak of Pleasant Hill encouraged seven of her nieces and nephews to do a project to improve the look of the parking lot at Pleasant Hill School. The children painted the bumper rails and gate, as well as just a little of themselves. The painters were Jordan and Carissa Yoak, children of Eddie and Dawn Yoak; Summer, Chase and Garrett Parsons, children of Robby and Stephanie Parsons; and Kaylin and Adam Parsons, children of Paul and Lori Parsons.

*    *    *    *

A man riding a motorcycle struck and killed a deer near Big Bend last Saturday afternoon. He was taken to Minnie Hamilton Health System. The deer was dead at the scene.

August 5, 2010

The weather continues to be extremely hot, humid, and downright miserable. Some who have tried their luck fishing have reported that even the fish are too lethargic to eat.

Perhaps, if we have a summer rainstorm, I will try my luck immediately after and see if the cooler water entices the fish to have a bite to eat.

There seems to have been a large hatch of little bugs with long translucent wings over the weekend. I remember fishing on the river at night in a johnboat and encountering clouds of these bugs that were so thick you had to put your T-shirt over your mouth to breathe.

*    *    *    *

Construction will begin soon on a new bridge to replace the Corder Bridge on the Roane-Calhoun county line. The old iron structure will continue to carry traffic until the new bridge is completed.

*    *    *    *

The news on Tuesday morning told of six teenagers in Louisiana who drowned while trying to save the life of another. None of the kids knew how to swim.

You teach your children not to play with fire, not to talk to strangers, as well as be smart in all that they do. Be sure to teach your children how to swim.

Water makes up 71% of the surface of the earth. You taught them how to walk, so be sure to teach them how to swim. It can save their life or the life of another.

*    *    *    *

The biggest meteor shower of the summer will occur next week on Thursday night, although there is a slim chance it could happen on Wednesday night. Since this year’s Perseid meteor shower occurs during the time of a new moon, the predicted peak is 50 to 80 meteors per hour.

You do not need binoculars or a telescope, just a clear, dark sky and an unobstructed view of the northeast. Although, if you just look straight up, you will still many “shooting stars.” The best time to look for them is from 11 p.m. until dawn. Take a blanket, the kids, some bug repellent, and make a night of it. Nature’s fireworks are hard to beat.

*    *    *    *

Grantsville is looking good, thanks to the summer youth workers, who have been busy all summer cleaning the streets and painting new lines in parking areas and the parking meter poles, among other things. They do a good job and we should all let them know how much we appreciate their efforts.

July 29, 2010

Up until the beginning of this week, it has been hotter than the Fourth of July. There was a threat of flash flooding last weekend, but that problem went elsewhere.

*    *    *    *

Judging by the trees in Grantsville, we are going to have a bumper crop of walnuts this year. They are already the size of tangerines on some of the trees. One can only hope that all the nut-bearing trees appreciate the weather we have been experiencing and will produce a large crop. At least the woodland creatures will have something to eat this winter, if it turns out to be anything like the last one.

*    *    *    *

Lately, you may have been inconvenienced by men working on phone lines in the Grantsville area, and wondered why they were replacing telephone poles and stringing some new line. The new line is fiber optic cable to enable higher internet speeds. It seems that not long ago, we were still using “party lines” in Calhoun. Now, all our younger citizens want to be “online, all the time.”

I guess it will be alright, as soon as scientists develop a memory chip that can be installed in our brain. Some days it seems that my memory is overloaded.

*    *    *    *

A fire was reported Tuesday morning across the river from veterinarian Joe Cain’s residence. A barn was burning and, at press time, it is unknown whether it burned to the ground.

*    *    *    *

The biggest meteor shower of the summer is building strength and should peak with a showing of 50 to 80 meteors per hour   on the night of Aug. 12-13, although there is a slim chance it could happen the night before.

I tell you this now because there will be a slow build up each night before the peak. You may enjoy seeing as many as 15 per hour before then.

You do not need binoculars or a telescope, just a clear sky and unobstructed view of the northeast (look for a W-pattern in the stars--they will appear just below that). The best time to look for them is from 11 p.m. until dawn. Take a blanket and the children and make a night of it. Nature’s fireworks are hard to beat.

July 22, 2010

As the dog days of summer go, this one is for the books. It has been excessively hot for consecutively more days than in the recent past, and we have received rain periodically throughout this traditionally drier part of the year.

I look forward to the cooler days of fall, followed by the white covering of winter snow, because you can always dress warm by piling on the heavy clothes, but you can only remove so much in an attempt to stay cool.

*    *    *    *

Tuesday, July 20, marked the 41st anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to land men on the moon and return them safely to earth. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon that day, I was glued to the couch, excited that the landing was without mishap and eagerly waiting for the first steps on the lunar surface.

That was also the day I was to leave town for a week to attend a science camp at Butcher’s Bend at Mineral Wells. I was sure that, since the astronauts would begin their historic trip down the ladder of the lunar excursion module, Eagle, at around 10 p.m., we would not see it at camp. Thanks to a Parkersburg store, Bobier TV and Electronics, who provided the camp with two of the biggest TVs it had in stock, and to the people in charge of the camp, who let us stay up that late, it made my first night at science camp one of the most memorable nights ever.

Now, we are happy when a major oil company manages to cap a well that shouldn’t have been a problem in the first place. I guess that’s progress.

*    *    *    *

Rain slick highways have caused a few accidents lately. Remember to slow down when it rains. Your tires may be a little more worn than you think, and the road surface is slicker with water on it. Take a little time to enjoy the rain.

*    *    *    *

Little spotted fawns can be seen frolicking in fields after the rains, while the mother deer eat the succulent grasses. Many bucks with horns in velvet stand off to the side in groups and watch. This should be a good year for deer hunters.

July 15, 2010

Some rain fell on the area the beginning of the week. The grass is looking greener and my weeping willow is much happier. Of course, you can’t have rain without very high humidity, which can make 80 degrees feel like 90, so I can still complain about the heat.

*    *    *    *

I did do a little fishing over the weekend and I can tell you that it feels strange to catch a fish, hold it in your hands, and the fish feels warmer than the air. It was fun though. I caught 14 nice bass, lost two really nice ones, and lost one that was big enough to snap my line when I tried to set the hook.

*    *    *    *

Many tasty treats are coming from local gardens. Nothing can beat the taste and smell of fresh, chilled cucumber salad. My thanks go out to all who have extra veggies to give to those who do not have a garden of their own. As my grandmother used to say, “Be a good neighbor, share your hard labor.”

*    *    *    *

Some progress is happening at the future construction site for the new bridge to replace the Corder bridge on Rt. 33-119 at the Roane/Calhoun county line. It will be nice to see a large truck coming at you when you are about to cross Henry’s Fork and not have to worry about a collision on the narrow bridge.

*    *    *    *

Paul Stalnaker, retired math teacher and all-around good man, died recently. Many knew him as a teacher at Calhoun County High School. I always thought he was fair and honest. When forced to strict measures, he was never afraid to apply the “board of education to the seat of knowledge.” He will be missed.

July 8, 2010

I guess the weather for the Fourth of July was absolutely perfect, since it was hot as a firecracker. Unfortunately, it continues to be even hotter each day this week, with temperature indices going close to, and perhaps over, the 100-degree mark. That makes it rough on those who labor out in the heat and those without air conditioning. By the weekend that should change when a cold front moves through bringing some rain and slightly cooler temperatures.

*    *    *    *

It’s no wonder our ancestors weren’t as overweight as today’s generation. They must have sweated away any excess calories in the summer and then worked them off in the winter trying to stay warm.

*    *    *    *

The excess heat makes it hard to catch fish as well. The water in the Little Kanawha River feels fairly close to bathwater, and the fish don’t feed much. One local couple who went camping over the holiday weekend said the only bites they got were from mosquitoes.

*    *    *    *

The lack of rain has dried up creeks and springs, and many area residents are going about the yearly chore of hauling water to fill their cisterns. Everyone has said it would be nice if Mother Nature would water their gardens for a day or two and give them a break from that heavy chore.

July 1, 2010

After repeating the hot and muggy pattern for another weekend, it seems we are in for some nice weather, with cooler temperatures and much lower humidity--at least until the 4th of July, when it is forecast to heat up again.

*    *    *    *

Even though it appeared no one was going to take advantage of Grantsville Community Garden, within the last two weeks someone has put it to good use. There are a couple of rows of tomato plants and perhaps some other vegetables on the way.

Gardening is an excellent way to work through stresses of everyday living, until bugs, blight, hail or deer come along and make you blow your top.

*    *    *    *

West Virginia lost Sen. Robert Byrd this week. When I was just a boy, I remember a government snafu that stopped my father’s disability checks for over a year. It seemed that no one could help until Byrd became involved and got matters corrected right away. He will not be easily replaced.

*    *    *    *

Now that the first cutting of hay is in the barn, so to speak, I have noticed that more farmers have begun using their old square balers again. It makes sense to me, as they are more easily stacked and actually worth more if sold to other farmers.

Now, if a few farmers would start putting up haystacks again, I would feel transported back in time.

June 24, 2010

The weather has continued to be hot and muggy, with the occasional thunderstorm to raise the humidity even higher. Overnight temperatures give little relief from the oppressive heat, although having a fan makes it tolerable.

*    *    *    *

Three cows were killed near Cabot Station last week, when the tree they were gathered under was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm.

We would all do well to remember that if you can hear thunder you should seek safe shelter immediately. You don’t want to be under the next tree that draws a lightning strike.

*    *    *    *

An 87-year-old Arnoldsburg man was arrested last week in Jackson County, after police found one and a half pounds of marijuana in his car.

*    *    *    *

Twenty volunteers on bicycles rode around the state from Huntington to Jackson’s Mill braving some of the hottest weather of the year to raise funds to help kids attend 4-H camp. They arrived in Grantsville last Saturday from Parkersburg and were welcomed by county extension agent Curt Garrison, whose parents hosted the cyclists at their home.

*    *    *    *

As of Tuesday at 3 p.m., according to Allegheny Power, the planned power outage for Thursday, June 24, 9 a.m. to noon, along Rt. 5 west of Grantsville, is still planned.

Last week, Allegheny listed the areas affected as Rt. 5 West of Grantsville to Creston, Leafbank, Hardman, Big Root, Yellow Creek, Bryner, Little Creek, Stutler Run, Annamoriah Creek, Munday, and Katies  Run.

June 17, 2010

Hot and muggy with occasional thunderstorms is the perfect description of recent weather. Over the weekend, a very heavy rain fell in the Grantsville area, which managed to clog every drain on town hill with mud and rock.

The runoff made the ditches a little deeper and deposited quite a bit of gravel and rock across the road at the north end of town. Highway crews cleaned the grates and removed the muck on Monday morning.

*    *    *    *

Gardens around the county are starting to look lush and folks are already beginning to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

*    *    *    *

Raspberries are beginning to ripen for those inclined to go berry picking. That was a job that I didn’t mind doing when I was a lad, I picked many gallons of berries and gave them to our neighbors, who would return the favor to me in the winter in the form of jam and jelly.

*    *    *    *

The official start of summer is Monday, June 21. I expect things will heat up then, even more than have so far. I look forward to winter when you can dress warmly. There’s only so much you can take off to stay cool.

*    *    *    *

West Virginia State Folk Festival will be held this weekend in Glenville. It has been going on for 61 years and is a must for lovers of bluegrass, folk music and dance. Go listen to some live music and see if you can keep your feet still.

*    *    *    *

Sunday, June 20, is West Virginia Day and Father’s Day. Be sure to remember and honor both.

June 10, 2010

The Calhoun County Wood Festival is over for another year, and it showed that things do get better with age. There was music and laughter, and re-acquainting with old friends that you only see at this time each year.

Although the weather was very hot and muggy, it rained little and did not dampen the spirits of those in attendance, who were ready to enjoy the many activities.

*    *    *    *

There is some resurfacing happening on Rt. 16 North of Grantsville, which should make the road a little more passable. There are very few stretches of smooth road left in the county.

*    *    *    *

The hot weather lately has encouraged some locals to go to an old-fashioned swimming pool, the Little Kanawha River. Three times last week, I saw folks splashing around and having a good time getting cooled off. Sometime soon, I will go do some fishing in the river, and I am certain that I will “accidentally” fall in once or twice.

*    *    *    *

It seems there was a minor accident last week involving a senior citizens bus and a booth on Market St. that sold smoked pork. The bus bumped into the booth and disconnected some of the utilities, causing a slight delay in sandwich making.

*    *    *    *

According to DNR, West Virginia hunters harvested 10,006 turkeys in 2010, the highest since 2006’s 11,735.

Calhoun continued a five-year decline in turkeys killed: 2006, 193; 2007, 150; 2008, 141; 2009, 129; and 2010, 120.

June 3, 2010

Even though at times it looked as though the clouds were going to let go and give us a good drenching, the weather was beautiful over the Memorial Day holiday. There was even some hay cut and put up last week.

*    *    *    *

A Calhoun County couple was arrested last week for felony grand larceny after they allegedly took four Alcoa wheels valued at $2,000 from David Cain of Big Bend. The thieves were arrested after they tried to sell the wheels at a recycling center in Elizabeth.

*    *    *    *

There is much excitement in Grantsville, as the town gets ready to kick off the 48th Calhoun County Wood Festival on Thursday. Music is planned for each evening and there is almost always impromptu jamming under the tin roof behind the NAPA store.

*    *    *    *

The black snake that was living in my yard evidently reads the Chronicle. We saw it in the middle of the road heading up the holler last week. I guess it wanted to live bad enough to move away.

*    *    *    *

The historical information sign, telling the story of Grantsville, that has been on the courthouse lawn for years is missing. It was first noticed last week. One can only suppose that it was taken by the state for refurbishing. Last year, two signs went missing in the West Fork area only to mysteriously re-appear months later, all cleaned up, without explanation.

May 27, 2010

The weather has been perfect for the last week. I guess that means there is a chance of rain during the Wood Festival.

I’m not saying that it rains every year during the first week in June, but for some reason none of the farmers I know will cut their hay that week. Perhaps it’s hard to find laborers then.

*    *    *    *

There has been much activity on Nobe Road over the past week. A house belonging to Norma Joy Freshour burned last Thursday under suspicious circumstances. Neighbors witnessed people entering the house with sheets covering their heads just before the house went up in flames.

Five days earlier, the house and a pickup truck were hit with shotgun fire and a de-activated hand-grenade was thrown into the yard.

Two men have been arrested in relation to the incidents. The state fire marshal and state police are continuing their investigations and are looking for other suspects.

*    *    *    *

A Calhoun man, Derek Westfall, was seriously injured last Sunday night in a wreck on Nicut Road. Westfall’s vehicle struck some steel I-beams, that were in place for a road slip, and the vehicle was ripped open throwing Westfall into the road. He was sent to CAMC by helicopter and is still in critical condition.

*    *    *    *

Monday is Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day. Cemeteries all over the county have been spruced up and many flower arrangements have been made by hand or purchased to place in remembrance on the graves of those we love and miss so much. In days gone by, folks would walk to the graveyard and pick flowers on the way, while talking about the good times they remembered sharing with the departed.

May 20, 2010

We haven’t seen the black snake since the weather turned cold, but the lightning bugs have begun to light up the night, and the toads still sing their lonesome tune.

*    *    *    *

Irises are blooming now and the wide variety of colors they display are one of my favorite things about spring.

*    *    *    *

All the rain we have been getting, while welcome, has kept the river looking like mud and running high. I suppose those of us who wish to do so can go fishing next month.

*    *    *    *

Last Thursday afternoon, lightning struck a tree in Grantsville, and while it did not do much damage to a nearby residence, it cleared people from the streets immediately, including me.

 *    *    *    *

Grantsville has been acting like a young lass before a big dance, getting all gussied up for the upcoming Wood Festival. Volunteers have spent the last few weekends cleaning the streets, planting flowers and generally making the town look nice. On behalf of everyone, I commend them for their efforts.

*    *    *    *

Many of the potholes in the county’s roads have been filled, but the rough treatment they received this past winter has left them almost as much patch as road. When you drive on the few stretches of road with a new surface, it feels as smooth as velvet.

*    *    *    *

Many species of birds are still coming to our feeders and they seem to be taking more each week. I suppose the little baby birdies have big appetites.

May 13, 2010

Every weekend, there seems to be outbreaks of severe weather somewhere in the country. Tornadoes, flooding and super-cell thunderstorms are giving little rest to some areas. Thankfully, except for some much needed rain, the nastiness has stayed away from our area.

*    *    *    *

Little, perfectly halved multi-colored eggshells have begun to drop from nests and mommy and daddy birds have begun the tradition of carrying sunflower seeds to their little cheepers. I look forward to the days when they bring their young to the feeder and I get to watch the small birds throw a fit when their parents won’t get the seeds for them.

*    *    *    *

Even though the primary election took place in an off-year, it seems to me that more people were interested in election days years ago. There were people on the streets, and the restaurants were busy with folks drinking coffee and speculating on who won what while they waited for the votes to be counted and results announced. I guess that, nowadays, people just check what’s happening on “Twitter.” I suppose a restaurant is where wits meet and Twitter is where twits tweet.

*    *    *    *

The great town-wide yard sale took place in Grantsville last Saturday with bargains galore for those who could shop without a hat. While the weather was not too cold, it was windy enough to relocate things from one table to another. The wind was roaring across the hilltops and making trees dance and bend. You know it’s windy when you see a buzzard soaring backwards.

*    *    *    *

The seismic survey thumper trucks were moving right along county roads last week. The only problem was that they only moved about 200 feet and stopped to thump again. That was an inconvenience on two-lane roads and a royal pain on back roads where they took up almost the entire roadway.

May 6, 2010

Calhoun County continues to skirt the worst of the severe weather from weekend storms. I cannot imagine what would happen to our area if we were to receive 13 inches of rain in 48 hours like they did in parts of Tennessee. Although fishing from the roof of the courthouse might not be out of the question.

*    *    *    *

A rather large blacksnake has taken up residence in the lower section of our yard. He appears to be between five and six feet in length. This weekend, I will strongly insist that he move to the adjoining woods in order to survive the summer. Otherwise, there just might be a “mowing accident.”

*    *    *    *

The little pink flags and stakes along some area roads were sporting wires early this week, as we are once again being deep-surveyed for deposits of natural gas in the Marcellus shale formation. This month’s issue of Audubon magazine contains an article about the exploration and exploitation of this valuable energy resource deposit and how it is being dealt with, both here and in Pennsylvania.

*    *    *    *

A home at the Rt. 5 end of Big Root was destroyed by fire on Saturday afternoon. No one was home at the time or hurt in the blaze, but a neighbor did kick open a door to save a dog trapped in the residence.

*    *    *    *

Next Tuesday is election day. I hear many people say, “My vote doesn’t count!” I personally believe that their vote doesn’t count, simply because they never go to the polls to cast it. Every election is important, every vote could be critical. Our ancestors fought for the right to vote, so the least you can do is exercise your right. Go vote, you’ll feel better for it.

April 29, 2010

The weather has turned from early summer to late spring with the passing of a cold front that spawned deadly and devastating tornadoes across the southern states. Locally, we received some much needed rain, cooler temperatures, and very little in the way of storms. I guess I will have to mow again this week-end, since rain also makes the grass grow.

*    *    *    *

The rain has alleviated dry conditions, enough so the state-wide ban on outdoor burning was cancelled by the governor. We are still under the normal spring forest fire restrictions until the end of May.

*    *    *    *

 A fire in Millstone last Wednesday burned a barn to the ground and injured the owners when they attempted to fight the fire. Ron Hart was taken to Minnie Hamilton Health System for treatment and his wife Ruby received minor burns on her face and arm. The cause has yet to be determined.

*    *    *    *

A car went upside down and into the creek while traveling Rt. 16 south of Grantsville on Monday morning. The driver suffered minor injuries and was treated and released.

*    *    *    *

The Community Garden project, located just above the former grade school in Grantsville, is on again this year. The price is $5 for a 12’x12’ plot. Nothing tastes better than what you grow yourself and you can’t beat the price--the cost of a fast-food combo meal and a little sweat.

April 22, 2010

Earth Day is Thursday, Apr. 22. Why don’t you celebrate by taking a long walk in the woods or by going fishing. The weather is supposed to be nice, so plan on spending some time with Mother Earth. For those who habitually throw trash out the window of their car, be nice to nature for this one day and take your garbage home.

*    *    *    *

Morel season appears to be (maybe) half over. The brown morels, which are the first to appear, are just now appearing in some spots, and are old and dried out in others. On a Sunday trip to the woods above our house, I found browns, grays, and little white morels. You will know the season is almost done, when you begin to find the large yellow morels in a couple of weeks.

*    *    *    *

Whippoorwills are singing nightly and a large owl was saying good morning to us for a few days late last week by perching along our road and spinning its head all the way around to look at us.

*    *    *    *

Carpenter bees, the ones that look like big bumblebees, are out hovering around people’s porches and generally being bothersome. I don’t mind them too much as they provide me with racquetball practice. I have never played racquetball, but I bought a racquet at a yard sale just to swat the bees. I used to use a tennis racquet, but the longer handle seemed somewhat unsportsmanlike. I like the sound of the strings when contact is made and there is one less bee dive-bombing us.

*    *    *    *

A body matching the description of a Charleston man was discovered along the bank of the Little Kanawha River by anglers on Sunday near the mouth of Tanner Creek. Basil Fred Hill, 29, was the subject of a massive search effort when he disappeared after leaving a bar in Glenville in December. The body was sent to the State medical examiner for identification.

April 15, 2010

The woods are extremely dry right now, even morel mush-rooms are practically dry when you find them. It is so dry that Gov. Joe Manchin has issued a statewide ban on outdoor burning.

*    *    *    *

Azaleas are beginning to brighten the landscape, alongside the dogwoods and redbuds. Beds of purple and pink phlox, as well as golden buttercups, make great stress relievers for those who walk the woods. The smell of lilacs and hyacinth alone are enough to make me close my eyes and breathe a blissful sigh.

*    *    *    *

A brush fire last Thursday in the Crummies Creek area was reportedly started by sparks from an electric line. The fire took almost seven hours to extinguish and burned about 23 acres.

 *    *    *    *

I have yet to hear the lonesome call of the whippoorwill this spring. There are quite a few that serenade us each spring, so I expect to hear from them soon.

*    *    *    *

If you haven’t cleaned, filled and hung your hummingbird feeders, it is time to do so. Even though they would survive without our help, I love to watch their airborne acrobatics as they attempt to guard three different feeders hung on three different sides of our house.

*    *    *    *

A Mt. Zion man was arrested last week for intimidating and harassing a public official when he allegedly, in an aggressive manner while yelling and cursing, came towards two Dept. of Welfare employees who were following up on a complaint concerning the welfare of children in the residence.

April 8, 2010

Spring is in full flush now, redbud trees and forsythias are in their glory, trilliums and fiddlehead ferns are up, morel mushrooms have appeared, and dogwood will be blooming in a week. What a wonderful time of year it is in Calhoun County.

*    *    *    *

Fire, once again, has struck another area family. The Carroll Road home of Jimmy and Tammy Bell caught fire on Monday afternoon and was a total loss, along with the family’s belongings. This makes the third house fire in the last few weeks.

*    *    *    *

Two brush fires were reported on Easter Sunday. Both were east of Grantsville and were constrained to a few acres by volunteers from Glenville and Grantsville.

State law prohibits debris burning from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. during March, April and May, and caution must be exercised when operating motorized equipment or smoking in wooded areas.

*    *    *    *

Now is a perfect time for taking early morning walks in the woods, with family and camera. Many flowers are in bloom, or about to bloom, and the lighting at that time of day is excellent for photography (of both flowers and family).

*    *    *    *

It is with heavy hearts that we heard the news of the mining disaster in Southern West Virginia on Monday. Everyone should remember the miners and their families in their prayers.

April 1, 2010

Turkeys are beginning to form large flocks as the old toms gather and guard their harems. The hills echo each morning with their gobbling.

*    *    *    *

Redbud trees are beginning to show just a hint of pink. As soon as they are in full bloom, we should see the dogwoods blossom. The magnificent magnolia tree at the end of the old bridge pier has tried all week to open its blossoms, but the weather has been too cold and rainy. That will change by the weekend when temperatures are forecast in the 80s.

*    *    *    *

Folks who have been trout fishing in nearby Roane County are catching some lunkers. I guess I’ll wait another couple of weeks and give the bass a try.

*    *    *    *

Fires are in the news again, as the home of Calhoun County deputy sheriff J.D. Smith burned to the ground last Friday evening. The house, located at Russett, was reputed to be over 100 years old. The family was uninjured, but lost everything to the blaze except the clothes on their backs.

Monetary and clothing donations can be left at the sheriff’s office. Call 354-6333 for information. A hot dog and bake sale will be held to help the family on Saturday, Apr. 3, at Speedy Mart, Arnoldsburg. For information or to arrange donations, call 655-7401 or 354-0370.

*    *    *    *

Up the river in Glenville, Ellyson Mortuary went up in flames early Saturday morning. Fortunately, no one was injured by the fire, but owner and funeral director Terry Ellyson was unable to save his cats who perished in the inferno.

*    *    *    *

Local and state authorities are investigating breaking and entering of two locations on the West Fork. Nelly’s Store at Minnora was broken into late Thursday or early Friday, with thieves making off with cigarettes, other tobacco products, and lighters. It marks the third time the store has been robbed under its current management.

The United Methodist Church Mission building, also in Minnora, was broken into by removal of a window. The crime was discovered Mar. 24. Thieves made off with a small amount of cash, along with some bottled water and coffee.

March 25, 2010

Spring began last Saturday and we celebrated by beginning the yard work, straightening trees bent over by the winter snows, and picking up a forest of sticks and limbs. The fields and meadows (and yards) are really greening up. Some folks have already mowed their lawn for the first time (not me).

Frogs are spreading the word each night and spring flowers are beginning to bloom, lifting the spirit of all who look upon them. Lilac and forsythia bushes are ready to pop and weeping willow and multi-flora roses are already leafing out.

*    *    *    *

Ramps are up, for those who love to eat them and don’t mind being shunned by those who won’t.

*    *    *    *

Morel mushrooms have yet to come up, but I expect them to appear in a week or two. Then, it will time to get my yearly exercise walking up the hills to hunt the tasty little morsels. Some of the old timers (I guess I’m one now, too) believe the bad winter we had means a good year for morels. I know that the heavy snow cover in the woods flattened the leaves, which should help make morels easier to spot.

*    *    *    *

Since the snow has melted, we can see all the trash that folks decided to throw out the window of their car instead of taking it home to properly place in the trash. It reflects badly on everyone when a small part of the population cannot be bothered with keeping their fast food garbage or beverage boxes contained in their car until they get home.

*    *    *    *

The 2010 census workers are out and about, going up and down the hollows of Calhoun County. They all have identification to prove who they are and that they were hired to help you make a difference by being counted. Not being counted is bad for the community, county and state. The census questions are easy and not of a personal nature, so be sure to answer them. After all, if these Calhoun folks had not been hired to work the census, our unemployment rate would have been even higher.

March 18, 2010

Calhoun County leads the state once again in unemployment figures. Calhoun had a rate of 21.3%, with Roane at 16.8%; Clay, 16.5%; Wirt, 16.2%; Ritchie, 11.5%; and Gilmer, 9.2%.

*    *    *    *

Springing forward on the clocks somehow seems to take the spring out of my step. Although I do enjoy the extra hour of light in the evening, I find myself missing that hour of sleep in the morning more and more with each passing year. Perhaps they could just move it backward a half-hour this fall and leave it alone.

*    *    *    *

Frogs and peepers have begun their yearly serenade. One of my favorite peeper ponds, located at Pleasant Hill, was filled in last year. I will miss the songs that we used to hear with the windows rolled down as we drove by.

*    *    *    *

Night crawlers were out last week for those who are ready to do a little springtime fishing. I have also noticed that glowbugs (the larval stage of fireflies) are appearing on warmer nights. The owls in our holler have been calling out to each other quite a bit lately.

*    *    *    *

Fire destroyed the residence and all of the belongings of Charlie and Mandee Richards on Mar. 9. The fire started in a camper located next to the house and things got worse when a fire truck from Grantsville VFD got stuck turning into the driveway.

Tanker trucks responded from Smithville and Harrisville, but were unable to get close due to the stuck vehicle. Firemen fought the blaze with hoses that were stretched from Rt. 16.

Monetary and other donations can be left at the Hathaway-Propst residence, across from Victory Baptist Church, on Rt. 16 South of Grantsville, or mailed to Mandee and Charlie Richards, 7106 N. Calhoun Hwy., Big Springs WV 26137. Call 354-6293 or 364-4435 for information.

March 11, 2010

Just as soon as the snowflakes were removed from the utility poles in Grantsville, we began to see temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s, with rain in the forecast instead of snow.

*    *    *    *

Now that the snow is melting and the spring flowers-- daffodils, snowdrops, crocus and tulips--are beginning to show (they were above ground for a while, just buried beneath the snow), you can tell that they have been deprived of sunlight by the pale green of the stalks. When the snow melted, it exposed a nice bunch of snowdrops blooming along the riverbank in Grantsville. I picked some beautiful little coltsfoot flowers along our road last Saturday.

*    *    *    *

Set your clocks ahead one hour when you go to bed this Saturday night, as this is when we all “spring ahead” to gain an hour of daylight in the evening.

 *    *    *    *

Another sign of spring was the arrival of a geocacher in the county, who found six caches  in one day. He came last Saturday from Bridgeport and thoroughly enjoyed the treasure hunt and the scenery. He vows to return.

*    *    *    *

It will be nice to have some green showing around the county for St. Patrick’s Day next Wednesday.

*    *    *    *

The highway department has been taking advantage of the break in the weather to put some patching in the potholes in the county. Unfortunately, some of our roads are nothing but potholes surrounded by asphalt. This winter has been extremely rough on the roads.

*    *    *    *

Deer are gathered where the grass is greenest, enjoying the best forage they have had in months. Turkey songs once again echo in the valleys as they get ready for the spring dance.

March 4, 2010

We get a little bit of thaw and then winter returns with a vengeance. A four-day snowstorm began on Thursday and snow continued to fall until Sunday morning. The accumulation of snow in our yard measured 16 inches.

Our little dog Shiloh stands about nine inches tall and taking him out for walks was, at least for us, a comical excursion. He did manage to get through the great white, though mostly by jumping from spot to spot with just his head sticking out above the snow.

Weather for this weekend is forecast to be partly sunny, warmer, with little or no precipitation, if you can believe it.

*    *    *    *

What has been an extremely inconvenient winter for all of us has been a complete disaster for the woodland animals: beginning with a very poor harvest of nuts last fall to months of snow-covered ground, where even winter grass has been almost impossible to find. The deer seem to be a bit scrawny and what few squirrels I have seen were out on the end of limbs, precariously perched, eating the buds of leaves yet to be.

*    *    *    *

On Monday, Mar. 1, 1997, there was severe flooding in the southern end of Calhoun County. If we are lucky, all of the snow we have received will simply melt away without being melted by a few days of rain.

February 25, 2010

We received a respite from winter’s icy grasp over the weekend. Temperatures warmed up to almost 50 degrees, with snow melting on roads, yards and roofs. Speaking of roofs, mine has a rather steep pitch and the glacier that was sitting there took a slide on Monday removing the gutters and quite a bit of woodwork in the process. Luckily, no one was under the avalanche when it fell.

*    *    *    *

I have now witnessed robins hopping about pastures and yards with my own eyes. While discussing this harbinger of spring, a fellow informed me that many of the folks he knows look for a different bird to tell them that spring is near, namely, buzzards. Just as they do every fall, buzzards return from their journey south in great flocks each spring. They even have a festival on Mar. 15, celebrating their return in Hinckley, Ohio. 

*    *    *    *

The highway department has been working on patching some of the potholes, but the potholes are keeping ahead of them. Maybe the snow we are due to receive at the end of this week won’t be too bad, so that snow plows won’t dig out the patching that was put in.

*    *    *    *

A house on Hog Nob Hill was seriously damaged on Sunday when a natural gas explosion demolished a wall at one end of the home, knocked doors and windows out, blew a hole in the ceiling and damaged the floor. Two people were in the other end of the house at the time of the explosion, but were uninjured.

*    *    *    *

The man accused of murdering Mike and Julie Flanagan last Easter weekend, Kirk Allen Miller of Salem, made his first appearance in court on Monday. Pre-trial hearing will be in May.

*    *    *    *

Deer are happy to see grass again, and have wasted no time trimming it down to mud. It seems that they have been eating anything they can find, even bark, tree buds and pine needles. They have had a hard time of it this winter.

*    *    *    *

We have been getting nightly visits from one of the biggest opossums I have seen. It looks like a 20-lb. rat and really does not like getting pounded and prodded by a walking stick. It had better learn to stay away mighty soon or it could come down with a quick case of lead poisoning.

*    *    *    *

The nasty ladybugs and wasps are beginning to wake from their long winter’s nap and fly around in homes--a sign of spring we could do without.

February 18, 2010

At the risk of sounding redundant, winter still holds us firmly in its icy grasp. It seems there is no respite from the ice and snow (“snow” is now considered a four letter word, so use it with caution). Spring is only four weeks away, but that is too far off for some folks.

*    *    *    *

Robins were reportedly seen in the county a couple of weeks ago, but I thought I would wait to report that bit of news until I saw them myself. I still have not witnessed even a single robin hopping around anywhere, but I do not doubt the earlier report. I just figure the robins got a little tired of hopping in deep snow looking for worms that are still frozen, so they turned around and flew back south. Perhaps, they will try again in April.

*    *    *    *

Tuesday, Feb. 16, marks the seventh anniversary of the worst ice storm ever to hit the area. No matter how bad this winter has been so far, at least it is not as devastating as that one. I still remember the sounds of the trees as they succumbed to the weight of the ice coating them, and either exploded as they broke in two or roared as they were uprooted. For two days that sound was almost constant.

*    *    *    *

The highway department has been working tirelessly to keep the main roads clear, but that does not leave them much time to work on the back roads of the county. Some folks have not been out of their hollers for over a week. The good news around these parts is that your neighbors are always ready to help you out when you need it. With any luck, there might be a break in the weather the latter part of this week to allow people to restock their pantry and refrigerator.

February 11, 2010

There is no reason to complain about the weather, as there is no way to change it. That said, I am positive that there are many readers out there who have had enough of this snowy winter already.

After seeing up to nine inches of heavy, wet snow fall last Friday night and Saturday, we were on track to get another storm on Tuesday and Wednesday that may deposit another nine or 10 inches.

The heavy, wet snow is the most dangerous as it can collapse roofs, damage trees, cause massive power outages, and pack into ice, causing roads and sidewalks to become treacherous.

*    *    *    *

Schools were closed Friday, Monday and Tuesday, and were likely to be closed Wednesday too. I guess the students will be spending some time in school after the scheduled closing date for summer vacation.

*    *    *    *

Deer have been pawing up the ground under walnut trees in my holler, looking for nuts that have to have been there since 2008. There were no nuts on any of those walnut trees this past fall. They have also been searching for food beneath beech trees, but the squirrels have beat them to the beech nuts.

*    *    *    *

Area roads are taking a beating from all the plowing being done to remove the frequent snows. Potholes will be a definite problem for the highway crews when it warms up enough to permit patching and repair.

February 4, 2010

To the best of my recollection, this has been the snowiest winter since 1976-77, when it snowed just after Christmas and stayed on the ground until late February.

That same winter, the river froze solid for miles to a depth of three feet allowing folks to walk from Russett to Grantsville without stepping on the bank-- even the riffles were frozen.

It was snowing here over the weekend and a little more on Tuesday. It is supposed to snow again on Friday and Saturday.

The good news? The groundhog did not see his shadow around here on Groundhog Day, so according to a rodent who spends the majority of winter asleep in a hole in the ground, spring is right around the corner.

*    *    *    *

Snowdrops, the first flowers of the year in our yard, surprised us when the snow melted away last week by showing a couple of inches of growth. They are coming up through the branches of a willow tree that a snowstorm knocked over on Dec. 18. The crocuses have yet to appear, but they should not be far behind.

*    *    *    *

The first full moon of the year was visible last Friday. It is known as the “Wolf Moon” and it was almost as bright as day. On Saturday night, with all the snow cover, a flashlight was not required for a late night walk.

*    *    *    *

Kids today must like video games and television more than playing in the snow. While driving into town on Saturday, we did not see any signs of sledding or outdoor activity of any type involving children (there were many adults shoveling snow).

I guess they will remember big snowstorms only if they lose electrical power and have to actually read something by candle light.

January 28, 2010

While we all enjoyed warmer temperatures last weekend, the latter part of this week and the weekend will find us back under winter conditions. Depending on the storm’s track, we could see some substantial snow by Sunday morning, with much colder temperatures.

*    *    *    *

A blue heron was spotted along the banks of Rush Run toward Stumptown. Wonder if that bird is a glutton for punishment or if it perhaps just doesn’t like flying off to Florida every winter.

*    *    *    *

The skeletal remains discovered by hunters in the Creston area have been identified as belonging to Christian Dawn Starcher Seabolt of Spencer, who was 18 when last seen in 2002.

*    *    *    *

A trial in Tennessee has resulted in the conviction of a man for the murder of former Calhoun resident Erastus Gene Stump in 1982. Mac Ray McFarlane, 50, was convicted of premeditated murder in the first degree and was given a sentence of life imprisonment. McFarlane is said to have had an extensive criminal history.

*    *    *    *

Unemployment figures have been released for December, with almost every county in the state reporting at least a slight increase in unemployment. Local figures have Wirt at 12.3%, Roane at 14.4%, Clay at 14.6% and Calhoun with the highest in the state at 15.9%.

At least during the Great Depression, there were many road projects in the county that required manpower to complete. We still appreciate the work done by the stonemasons and road crews who helped make the county accessible.

There isn’t much call for brute force labor anymore and no other jobs on the horizon in the immediate future.

January 21, 2010

For the first time in almost a month, we were able to unlock the hubs on our four-wheel drive Tracker to get in and out of our road. There are still areas of snow in the hollow, so the December snowstorms have not completely left.

*    *    *    *

We spotted a wren at the feeder the other day, and the songbirds, every now and then, break into their spring tunes. Only two and a half months until the morel mushrooms come up.

*    *    *    *

Deer are starting to gather together again and feed in the meadows along the roads. I don’t know what they found to eat this winter, but I see they made it so far. Turkeys are also beginning to flock together.

*    *    *    *

An audit done by the legislature showed that West Virginia has too many colleges. The audit also shows that the State has the lowest number of people with bachelor’s degrees in the nation. Glenville State College was one of four rural colleges located a distance from major highways that were singled out.

*    *    *    *

Calhoun County has had a long relationship with Glenville State, and I don’t think it will close just so the legislature can say that it “tightened its belt.”

*    *    *    *

Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1994, was one of the coldest mornings on record for this area with temperatures registering as low as 31 degrees below zero. In comparison, this past Tuesday was almost balmy.

*    *    *    *

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has announced that hunters harvested 154,524 white-tailed deer in 2009, 5.5 percent less than 2008’s 163,603. Breakdown for Calhoun’s 2,653 total was as follows: bucks, 1,151; antlerless, 1,006; muzzleloader, 180; and bow, 316. The 10-county District VI, which includes Calhoun, had the most of any district with 36,875.

January 14, 2010

The birds continue to be grateful for the food we provide for them in these times when the ground is snow-covered. The gold finches are just beginning to get their yellow coloration on chest and neck, which indicates that spring is not too far away.

*    *    *    *

This is the longest that snow has been continuously on the ground in many years. It will soon be a month since I have seen my yard.

*    *    *    *

Children have now returned to school after a rather long break--Dec. 21 through Jan. 8. Most of them were quite happy to go back to school, but not quite as happy as their parents, who had had to deal with “I’m bored!” for almost a month. The children were also tired of hearing how all of us more mature folks had to walk two miles to school every day, in knee-deep snow, and uphill both ways.

*    *    *    *

The temperatures have been dipping into the single digits overnight, but that could change by the weekend, and the snow will be gone . . . to be replaced by mud.

*    *    *    *

A house on River Street in Grantsville caught fire early Friday morning and was quickly brought under control by the fire department, which was battling both the fire and temperatures around 10 degrees. An electric heater is the suspected cause of the blaze.

January 7, 2010

Citizens of Grantsville are evidently following the letter of the law--they are not feeding the pigeons. Dozens of pigeons were seen on the courthouse roof trying to eat the snow.

*    *    *    *

As a child, I remember sitting on my grandmother’s lap, watching her shake a snow globe, and looking at the peaceful, serene scene with the snow slowly drifting down to cover the little village inside. Being a child, I thought of how nice it would be to live in a snow globe. Well, we all live in one now and it has been placed into a freezer and I, for one, can’t wait to get out (spring is only 10 weeks away).

*    *    *    *

The snow since last Friday, and it has snowed every day, is such a light, fluffy snow that I have seen people clearing their driveways with a leaf blower. When viewed from the highway, it sort of looks like a miniature blizzard with a person moving around inside.

*    *    *    *

The birds at our house very rarely sit patiently in the trees outside our windows. When they sit like that, staring at us with a “hungry look,” I know the feeder is completely empty. When I step outside to fill it up again, the birds get so excited that it sounds as loud as they do on a warm spring morning. They flit about from limb to limb, and some will fly off to alert others that are foraging elsewhere in the hollow that good times have returned and the 15-minute famine has ended.

*    *    *    *

Late last Saturday night, Calhoun law enforcement was advised of a police chase that originated in Gilmer County, with the subject fleeing towards Grantsville on Rt. 5. The driver evidently took a different route and ended up on Rt. 47, headed toward Parkersburg, where police placed a spike strip across the road flattening the suspect’s tires. The driver appeared to have been drinking and is facing multiple charges.

December 31, 2009

Christmas has come and gone for another year, but I don’t think it will soon be forgotten. The power outages from last week’s snowstorm lingered on and caused some folks to be without power, even on Christmas day. Power was restored to some areas on Christmas Eve, allowing families to go home and wake up in their own beds on Christmas morning.

*    *    *    *

Yes, we had a white Christmas in Calhoun County. As a matter of fact, quite a bit of that same snow will still be here under a layer of new snow to make New Year’s Eve an excellent time to stay home and stay safe, instead of out on the roads.

*    *    *    *

The birds at our house have told all of their friends about the new feeder I got for Christmas, and they all seem to like it . . . a lot. I guess I will be buying another 25-lb. sack of sunflower seeds by the weekend to keep my feathered friends fed.

*    *    *    *

A heavy facing board that used to hold part of the Rainbow Hotel sign came off the building and onto the sidewalk during the snowstorm. I didn’t see it until I stubbed my toe on it in the snow last week. It is a good thing that it didn’t fall on someone’s head or it would have been them that I tripped over.

*    *    *    *

With the help of family, friends and neighbors, all of Calhoun County has made it through another of nature’s nasty, but pretty, surprises. I’m sure many people are looking forward to next year and a new decade. I sure do hope that the new decade is not as rough on us as the last one was.

December 24, 2009

By the calendar, winter started on Monday. By what happened over the weekend, I’m sure most everyone would disagree about that beginning. It has been years since our area has received so much snow in just one day.

It began just after midnight on Friday when the rain, which had been falling steadily all day, turned to snow. By dawn, the white stuff was a foot deep in many areas, and showed no signs of letting up.

At our house, it measured 16.5 inches on the deck and was knee deep on me and way over our little sheltie’s head. It was fun to watch him “porpoise” through the snow.

It was a heavy, wet snow, and it dropped trees on power and telephone lines, as well as on roads, houses and whatever happened to be in the way. Power was said to be out at more than 3,300 Calhoun homes.

Lack of power has also caused water problems. An emergency shipment of 5,000 gallons of bottled water was to be delivered on Monday to help alleviate the problem.

An emergency shelter was opened on Monday at First Baptist Church, Grantsville, to help those without power and heat.

Some folks had places to be and ventured out on the roads-- and many wound up in the ditch or against guardrails. The highway department was dedicated to keeping roads passable to emergency traffic.

We had many different species of birds at our feeders, and it reminded us of shopping on Christmas eve. There were long lines of feathered customers sitting on the limbs and some of them would become impatient and attempt to jump ahead in the line.

That started a few rather contentious fights when it occurred among the gold finches and chickadees. It seemed that the cardinals were the referees, and they would stop the fighting and get a bite to eat whenever they wanted.

December 17, 2009

One of the things that really bothers me about all of this schizophrenic weather is going out in the morning, with mild temperatures, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a light jacket, and then the wind blows in cold weather in the teens. I know, it’s my fault for not dressing warmer in the first place, but it still irks me nonetheless.

Last week’s winds were ferocious, with gusts tearing across the ridge tops like the sound of a jet taking off. Holiday decorations were blown all over yards, making me   think that I just might see Santa Claus on his sleigh with the reindeer flying over someone’s house.

The wind did do minor damage in the area, causing some roof damage and knocking over a tombstone at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. It also blew out a windowpane from the former Rainbow Hotel, which landed and smashed right beside the sidewalk.

*    *    *    *

On Dec. 15, 1967, around 5 p.m. the bridge connecting Point Pleasant and Kanauga, Ohio, collapsed, dumping 31 vehicles into the icy water and killing 46 people. The bridge was dubbed the “Silver Bridge” because it was the country’s first aluminum painted bridge.

*    *    *    *

Winter will officially begin on Monday, Dec. 21, which is the day of least sunlight. I always like to see it get dark a little later each day after that, it lets me know that spring is only a few months away.

December 10, 2009

The last day of the two-week deer season was a great day for hunting, with lots of snow. Snow makes the deer easier to spot (unless it’s an albino deer), makes tracking a wounded animal as easy as following a roadmap, and I just like to see the beautiful white layer of frosty, sparkling, frozen water crystals blanketing the dun-colored winter world. If the Weather Service is to be believed, we may even have more snow by this weekend.

*    *    *    *

Monday, Dec. 7, marked the 68th anniversary of the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by the Imperial Japanese Navy that catapulted America into World War II. When President Roosevelt, calling on Congress to declare war on Japan, said that the assault was a “day that shall live in infamy,” he gave the Pearl Harbor attack its most famous and enduring title. War was declared on Japan the next day, Dec. 8, 1941. Within a few days, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. Even before the president’s speech, outraged Americans were flooding recruiting offices to join the Armed Forces.

*    *    *    *

The new security lights at the courthouse were lit for the activities and parade last Friday, and they really make a difference. There were many rosy-cheeked children standing by waiting for Santa to arrive, and they were not disappointed. He met with the little ones in the courthouse and listened to the wish list of each child. A few of the kids had some rather extensive lists. Photos will be available for viewing on our website.

*    *    *    *

Tom Fox, Dept. of Natural Resources retiree, spotted a rare sight in Calhoun: four Sandhill Cranes. These large birds (3 to 5 feet tall) are seldom seen in this area because their migration routes are farther west. If you are lucky enough to see any of them, enjoy the sight and take a photo. You may never repeat the experience.

December 3, 2009

The weather continues to be confused on a daily basis. It is getting close to the first of winter, but we are still enjoying some rather warm days, although the nights get pretty frosty. Snow is in the forecast for the end of the week.

*    *    *    *

The new security lights are up around the courthouse, and they make the old structure look a little more modern somehow. The lights are the latest design, and are manufactured to project light toward the ground to cause minimal light pollution in the night sky.

*    *    *    *

Even with the annual deer harvest in full swing, there are still multitudes of deer standing in the fields and along the roads every day. There are also quite a few nice bucks hanging from trees in successful hunters’ yards.

*    *    *    *

It was not a very happy Thanksgiving for a man who was struck by a car that was going west on Rt. 33-119 last Wednesday in Arnoldsburg. The man apparently came down a set of steps that lead directly onto the highway in a turn. He was hit as soon as he stepped onto the road. He was transported to Charleston by helicopter.

*    *    *    *

People around the county have already started decorating their homes and yards for the upcoming holiday season. It really looks nice as one is driving along the roads after dark.

November 26, 2009

There was more beautiful weather over the weekend, with sunny skies and temperatures warm enough to confuse some forsythia bushes into sprouting a few flowers.

Hunters went through the annual ritual of sighting-in their rifles. With an over-abundance of deer running around, this year could be a record harvest.

The forecast is for the possibility of snow by the end of the week. It is always nice to have snow on the ground during deer season.

*    *    *    *

When I was growing up, relatives would always come to our house for Thanksgiving week because there were hardly any deer in the Kanawha County area. There weren’t that many around here back in the ’60s either, but at least we had enough to warrant a season.

We would get up an hour or two before daylight, fix a big breakfast, and be in the woods before the sun rose. We walked along paths that we had cleared of sticks and leaves, so we could move stealthily. The secret to a successful buck hunt was to move slowly and quietly.

Those days are long gone, and so is the “slow and quiet” part. Now, you hardly ever see a hunter on foot. They mostly “road hunt” from the back of 4-wheelers or from the warm, dry comfort of 4-wheel-drive vehicles. I suppose it is a good thing that there are so many more deer in the woods now. The deer we hunted years ago would never be seen by today’s hunters.

*    *    *    *

Calhoun had an official unemployment rate of 11.6% for October, trailing Roane at 12.3% and Clay with 14.6%. The tri-county area still suffers the worst unemployment in the state.

*    *    *    *

A Pine Creek man was injured on Saturday night in a  4-wheeler accident. He was transported to Minnie Hamilton and then sent on to Charleston General with serious injuries.

*    *    *    *

Sunday, Nov. 22, marked the anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, who was killed by a sniper while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Tex., in 1963. It was a day of shock and mourning across the country. All who were living then can well remember that day.

November 19, 2009

Another weekend of Indian Summer was enjoyed in the region, with a promise of some much needed rain in the forecast for the latter part of the week.

*    *    *    *

A four-point buck has been hanging around the riverbanks in Grantsville. He must think that no one will notice him, if he stands still until they go away. He has been spotted several times and may survive the upcoming hunting season if he continues to lay low.

*    *    *    *

This week marks the anniversary of the death of sheriff Park Richards, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Nov. 18, 1976, while serving a warrant on a mentally disturbed man who was living in a cave on Rush Run, close to Stumptown.

A section of Rt. 16 from Grantsville to the Calhoun/Ritchie county line was dedicated Park Richards Memorial Highway in 2006 to honor his memory.

*    *    *    *

The European gypsy moth is a serious threat to West Virginia forests. People transporting campers, trailers, RVs and firewood from one area of the state to another is one of the ways it spreads. Hunters should inspect these items for the presence of gypsy moth egg masses and remove any they find. Thirty-nine of the 55 counties are under a gypsy moth quarantine and Calhoun County is on the list. The egg masses are buff colored, approximately a half-inch long, and covered with fine hairs.

In 2009, the gypsy moth defoliated over 44,000 acres of forested land in West Virginia. Gypsy moth larvae feed on over 300 species of trees, with oaks being their preferred diet.

For information call 558-2209 or visit www.wvagriculture.org.

November 12, 2009

There were dragonflies and ladybugs flying everywhere over the weekend while we all enjoyed a touch of Indian Summer. Temperatures were   in the lower 70’s and overnight temperatures were above freezing.

*    *    *    *

Be sure to set your alarm clocks to wake you up around 2 a.m. on Nov. 18, so you can enjoy the annual Leonid meteor shower, which is basically debris left behind by the comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. This year, astronomers think that we will be getting a peak of hundreds of meteors, because Earth will be passing close to the center of the comet’s debris trail laid down in 1466. Also, the moon will be new at that time and will not interfere with viewing even the dimmest “shooting stars.” This is your chance to see the best meteor show since the 2002 Leonids.

*    *    *    *

Thursday, Nov. 5, marked the anniversary of the flood of 1985 when high waters caused severe problems throughout the region and took the lives of nearly 50 people around the state. Locally, the Little Kanawha River did not reach record levels in Grantsville, but did set the record in Glenville by being two feet higher than the flood of 1967. Smaller streams in the county wreaked havoc as well.

*    *    *    *

Progress is being made on new security lighting for the grounds of Calhoun Courthouse in Grantsville. The concrete base for the light stands has been poured and we expect to see the poles and lights installed sometime soon.

November 5, 2009

While us humans would like to enjoy the extra hour of sleep that we get back when we switch to Daylight Saving Time, animals only pay attention to the daylight itself. Our little dog, Shiloh, wonders why bedtime has moved to an hour later, and still thinks it is time to get up and go outside as soon as the sky begins to lighten. I thought only farmers had to get up at the crack of dawn.

*    *    *    *

A helicopter was buzzing around Calhoun last week and the first part of this week. If you saw it, you may have noticed the rather large saw attachment hanging beneath it. It was in the area to cut branches protruding over the power line that runs from Spencer to Grantsville to Glenville.

*    *    *    *

While watching the aforementioned helicopter flying over Grantsville on Monday, I noticed two large raptors rapidly flying toward the East. It appeared that they did not like seeing anything that large flying around, especially with a saw beneath it. When they flew overhead, you could tell that it was a pair of Ospreys. I hope they come back next year to nest.

*    *    *    *

A local man told me of having six walnut trees in his yard that produced a nice harvest of walnuts this fall. He said that his yard was covered with the nuts for about two days, and then it was covered with squirrels for one afternoon, and the nuts were gone. I suppose the walnuts are now “squirreled away.”

*    *    *    *

Although I doubt if it has anything to do with Halloween, there seem to be quite a few headless deer laying dead along the highways in the county. One supposes that they must have had a nice set of antlers to make someone cut the head off of a road-kill deer and take it with them. On the other hand, perhaps it was done for revenge for all of the damage done to their vehicle. Wouldn’t it be easier to carry a small hacksaw and just remove the horns?

*    *    *    *

It seems that all of the little ghosts, goblins, pirates and other creatures that were out and about last Saturday evening had a good time. Those involved in making their Halloween happy should feel proud.

October 29, 2009

The beauty of the trees in all of their autumn splendor simply takes my breath away. It’s like living in a vivid painting of a fall scene. I only wish everyone could experience what it is like to walk along a gravel road, kick through the brilliantly colored leaves, and smell the scent of fall in the air.

*    *    *    *

A methamphetamine bust was made in the Cabot Station area when State Police received a tip that items used for making the drug had been purchased and taken to a specific location. A Lincoln County man has been charged with the crime. The investigation is continuing.

*    *    *    *

H1N1 flu is a topic everyone likes to discuss these days. There are more than a few people I have seen this week who only go out in public wearing the “blue masks.” They probably have a bottle of hand sanitizer handy too. I don’t blame them one bit.

While the flu is widespread in the country, it is still not too bad here. Everyone should take precautions, such as frequent hand washing and immunization to protect themselves and their family.

*    *    *    *

This week marks the anniversary of the first baby born at Calhoun General Hospital, which opened in 1959. On Oct. 27, 1959, Donald Lee Edgell, Jr., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Edgell of Arnoldsburg. Happy birthday, Donald.

*    *    *    *

This week also marks the birthday of the World Wide Web, commonly known as the internet. It came into being on Oct. 29, 1969, when two letters--LO--were typed on a keyboard at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and appeared on a screen at the Stanford Re-search Institute, 314 miles away.

October 22, 2009

So far, I have been able to count only one victim of the middle of the street pigeon feeder, a grey squirrel flattened in front of J&B, and I can’t be sure that it is actually related to the feeder. Without much to eat in the woods, who can say that they won’t come into town and commit suicide in the street.

It seems that, at least among the walnuts, trees in the valleys did not produce nuts, while the ones on ridges produced some. I don’t see many acorns or hickory nuts anywhere and the deer are coming into the yard and eating every dead flower and shrub they can. They are also cleaning up sunflower seeds that the birds drop on the ground.

*    *    *    *

Calhoun County unemployment figures from WorkForce West Virginia show a drop of 1.2 percent (13.2 to 12.1) from August to September, which left the county tied for fifth highest with Mason County. Roane leads the state with 13.0, followed by Jackson (12.9), McDowell (12.7), and Wetzel (12.3).

*    *    *    *

The temperature on Monday morning was 27 degrees at our house. Ice was in the puddles and frost covered everything. Since the cold set in, the nights are silent, except for the lonesome hooting of the owls.

*    *    *    *

Standing in line at stores in town, one can hear much about the H1N1 flu in the county and, as with all rumors, most of what you hear is either untrue or unsubstantiated. On Monday, I overheard one mother saying that she was going to keep her daughter home, even if it meant she herself might be arrested for failure to send her child to school.

She was reacting to the rumors going around, instead of contacting school or health officials to get the true story. Remember the words of Franklin Roosevelt, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

October 15, 2009

The black snake I mentioned last week was pretty much of average size, so we were somewhat surprised when we spotted about a dozen crows in the trees surrounding the carcass two days later. They weren’t bothering it, just watching it very closely. The next evening, the crows were gone and nine buzzards had taken over the watch. The next day, the snake was missing. Who knew that snake was such a delicacy when there are hundreds of dead squirrels to be found along any roadway.

*    *    *    *

Apparently, someone is breaking the law in Grantsville on an occasional basis. There are mornings when I come to work and see most of the pigeons walking around the middle of the street in front of the courthouse eating something, when the town has forbidden anyone to feed them.

On the flip side of this unlawful act is the fact that, sooner or later, the pigeons will be so intent on cleaning the street that they will forget to fly out of the way of early morning traffic, and the pigeon population will be reduced.

*    *    *    *

Walking past the old Grantsville Tire building, I noticed that it has been made ready for Halloween. I’m glad to know that kids will have something to do for Halloween that will, hopefully, keep them out of trouble. I remember my teenage years and what we got into this time of year, and all of the trouble that we, somehow, avoided.

*    *    *    *

The best way to prevent getting the flu is to get a flu shot for both seasonal flu and H1N1 swine flu. The second best thing is to wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap as often as possible. Cleanliness counts towards keeping healthy.

October 8, 2009

Despite heavy rain on Friday night, we had beautiful, crisp weather last weekend. This time of year, the fog that fills the valleys each morning makes for an inspiring sight. We all should endeavor to take walks each evening and morning to appreciate the beauty and smell of autumn. It will soon be winter with drab colors and snow flying.

*    *    *    *

Speaking of snow, there were reports from various people that snow was spotted in the air on Monday on Mt. Zion ridge. They said it looked more like falling slush, but it was definitely snow.

*    *    *    *

Some people who stopped to admire a blue heron at a submarine bridge crossing the West Fork were somewhat surprised when they also saw an otter frolicking in the stream. It was swimming on its back and doing belly rolls.

*    *    *    *

Even though it wasn’t that warm on Monday, a black snake made the mistake of stretching itself across the road just when the well tender came down our road. He is still stretched across the road, but is no longer enjoying the sunshine.

*    *    *    *

 Grantsville was very busy last Saturday as folks came  from near and far to bargain   for things at the town-wide yard sale. It almost reminded me of what the streets looked like 40 years ago on a Saturday after-noon.

*    *    *    *

Oct. 4-10 is Fire Prevention Week. Appropriately timed for the beginning of colder weather, it reminds us that we need to prepare for winter by checking heaters and furnaces. Make sure that your smoke detector has a fresh battery installed and make sure everyone in your household knows your fire escape plans. If your house catches fire, everyone needs to know how to escape and where you will all meet to determine who needs further assistance. For information on family safety tips go to www.firepreventionweek.org

October 1, 2009

Weather did not cooperate with the planners of the Molasses Festival last weekend, but it could not dampen the spirit of the folks who came out for the fun in Arnoldsburg.

*    *    *    *

The raccoons that have been plaguing my birdfeeder have shown me this week that they are willing to run with a bad crowd, namely opossums. Three times they have shown up late at night with the giant rat-like creatures in tow. The raccoons disappear quickly when caught and the ’possums just stand there and look at you. Perhaps the ’coons are using them for “boot bait.”

*    *    *    *

According to an insurance firm, drivers in West Virginia have a one in 39 chance of hitting a deer in the next 12 months. That’s up from a one in 45 chance last year, which makes West Virginia the number one state for deer collisions for the third year in a row.

There is roughly one deer for every two people (1 million deer, according to the DNR, and 1.8 million people). Four cities, including Charleston, have deer hunts within city limits.

*    *    *    *

Fall forest fire season begins Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. No outdoor burning is allowed between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The burning of brush and leaves may be burned after 4 p.m. only if carefully supervised. Residents who fail to follow the burning restrictions are subject to fines of up to $300, misdemeanor charges, and can be liable for property damage that is caused by their uncontrolled fire.

September 24, 2009

The weather could not have been better for the activities at the Calhoun County High School Homecoming and the Calhoun County Park Fun Festival last weekend. The days were not too hot and the evenings were just right for a long-sleeved shirt to keep out the chill.

*    *    *    *

Monday afternoon, I heard the sound of an unusual engine going through town and looked out the window just in time to see a procession of seven or eight antique Ford horseless carriages go past. I don’t know where they were going on a Monday afternoon, but it sure was a pleasure to see them putter down Main Street.

*    *    *    *

Light rain began on Sunday afternoon and continued, off and on, through Monday and Tuesday. The long dry spell had allowed oil to build up on roadways and the rain made them very slick. There were four minor accidents reported on Monday that were likely related to the phenomenon.

*    *    *    *

An accident involving a 4-wheeler and a deer occurred over the weekend. The rider of the ATV was flown to Charleston by helicopter where he was listed in serious condition. The deer was not so lucky.

*    *    *    *

Fall fell on Tuesday, just in time for reports of light snowfall in areas of the Rocky Mountains. It won’t be long until the snow will start flying in the mountains around Elkins.

*    *    *    *

One of the young raccoons made a visit to my house on Monday night to raid the birdfeeder--again. They have stayed away for over a month, so I just thought they were done mooching off me. Now I know they were just taking a break. I guess I will have to poke them off of my feeder with a walking stick and smack them in the butt to teach them a lesson.

September 17, 2009

Another beautiful week of weather has given me nothing to complain about. Fall will arrive on Tuesday, and the days and nights we have been experiencing are just right for getting us ready. The only wooly worms that I have seen, and that have been reported to me, are completely black. I believe that portends for a bad winter. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

*    *    *    *

Bucks are beginning to lose the velvet from their antlers and deer are plentiful along the highways in the morning and evening hours. As long as they stay in the fields and out of    the roadway, I like them just fine.

 *    *    *    *

I hope to see many Calhouners at Calhoun County Park this weekend for the Fun Festival and all of the activities, including the re-enactment of the Skirmish of Sycamore. Although in the original accounts of the skirmish, there was no clear “winner,” perhaps there will be this weekend. It should be fun for the entire family. It might be wise to bring lawn chairs for the events.

*    *    *    *

September 10, 2009

Very nice weather has been on tap for the region for the past week. We even received a little rain on Sunday and Monday. The hummingbirds seem to be preparing themselves for their annual winter vacation in South America. Goldfinches are beginning to lose some of their bright yellow plumage. Owls have been making quite a bit of racket on some nights.

*    *    *    *

An accident on Friday evening on Rush Run near Orma put a car over on its top. The driver was not at the scene when authorities arrived to investigate.

*    *    *    *

It seems that the W.Va. Oral Rabies Vaccination Project will soon drop vaccination bait for area raccoons. This is a good idea to combat rabies in wild animals. If you hear a plane flying low over your head in the woods, you might be wise to duck and cover. Those baits might not be too heavy, but they would sure hurt hitting your head at 100 miles an hour.

*    *    *    *

Two county men were found dead on Saturday, one on Mud Fork and the other in Arnoldsburg. Since both deaths were unattended, the bodies have been sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Charleston for autopsy.

*    *    *    *

West Virginia has recorded its first death from H1N1, or swine flu. Michael Bloomfield, 51, of Cabell County had been in the hospital for several days and had other underlying health problems.

September 3, 2009

Fall is in the air, at least in the mornings. It has been quite cool in the morning, and the valleys have been filled with so much fog, it looks like a lake of white from ridge top to ridge top.

*    *    *    *

Some paving has occurred in Grantsville in the last week. New strips of pavement have helped the surface of Court Street, Mill Street and the area on Main Street where the drain at the corner in front of the courthouse was quite a drop all by itself.

*    *    *    *

The Town Hill paving project seems to be about done. The  work on guardrails is nearly complete, since the new paving made them too low. All they had to do was remove the guardrail, lift out the posts, drive the posts back in a little  bit higher, and bolt it all back together.

*    *    *    *

The raccoon family that has plagued my bird feeder this summer must have moved on. I have left the feeder out over night for almost a week now and it has survived with no trouble.

I suppose the momma ’coon may have sent the little bandits on down the holler, where they might be fending for themselves.

August 27, 2009

The hot and humid weather of last week gave way to a cold front, which passed through on the weekend. The temperature on Monday morning was 54 degrees at our house

*    *    *    *

It was reported on Saturday from people who lived along Rts. 33-119 that they were “pretty sure” that they had just seen Gandalf, the wizard from the Lord of the Rings, walking East in Calhoun.

The traveler was spotted from Spencer to Weston and turned out to be a man named “Pilgrim George,” who has walked from Pittsburgh to Alabama and is on the return leg of his trip.

From the descriptions given of his clothes, hat and staff, I would have probably thought him a wizard myself.

*    *    *    *

A mob of crows was shrieking and diving at an owl or hawk in the trees at the edge of my yard over the weekend. I like raptors more than I do crows, so I went out to investigate. There were too many leaves on the trees to see what the crows were after, so I began waving my arms to scare the crows away. They didn’t care about that. I then held my hand as if I was about to shoot them with a pistol. Still not caring. What they did care about was when I put my arms in the position of firing a shotgun. They all left within seconds.

*    *    *    *

A man was sent to a hospital by helicopter on Sunday night after losing control of a pickup truck on Phillip’s Run and crashing into the creek. A female passenger was taken to Minnie Hamilton Health System.

*    *    *    *

John Manis Richards of Grantsville entered a plea of guilty to a count of grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny in an agreement before Judge Larry Starcher in Gilmer County court on Thursday. This is from charges made against Richards for the July 2007 theft of a truck and materials from Hardman Supply in Glenville. The trial has been through many delays since its inception.

August 20, 2009

It was hot, humid and hazy for the last week, with showers and thunderstorms coming this week. Typical August weather is why many folks prefer September.

*    *    *    *

Tuesday morning, workers with the Dept. of Highways were working on a section of town hill road North of Grantsville digging up some of the work done, and perhaps not yet even completed, by the resurfacing project.

*    *    *    *

An accident occurred just after noon on Tuesday at the intersection of Rts. 16 and 5 in Grantsville. Robert Bonar, principal of Pleasant Hill School, was traveling South through the intersection on his way home for lunch when his pickup truck was struck in the side by a pickup moving East on Rt. 5.          

After striking Bonar’s vehicle, the truck continued through a cable across the entrance to the former Smith’s Service Station, traveled across the lot and over the hill into the deep gully beside Simon St.

 Bonar’s truck suffered moderate damage to the driver’s side, but he was apparently uninjured. The driver of the other truck made his way up the steep, brushy embankment and was taken to Minnie Hamilton Health System for treatment. His condition was unknown at press time.

*    *    *    *

The man who held up the Arnoldsburg branch of Calhoun Banks, Darin Stephen McClain, has been sentenced to 77 months in a Federal prison, followed by three years probation. He has also been ordered to pay $14,409 in restitution and testify in court as needed.

August 13, 2009

No more complaining about the lack of hot weather. I don’t really like 90-degree temperatures and high humidity. The river is just starting to clear again after looking muddy enough to plant corn in for a week.

*    *    *    *

Grantsville’s trash truck was back in service before the end of last week. The raccoons and opossums were disappointed that the town parking lot was now “off the menu.”

*    *    *    *

Summer youth workers at the courthouse applied asphalt sealer to the parking lot last week. After seeing them walk down the sidewalk after the job was done, it seemed that the parking lot may have been applying sealer to the workers.

*    *    *    *

Thieves broke into a house on Henry’s Fork last week and made off with a gun, flat screen TV and other items, as well as trashing the place when they were done.

*    *    *    *

Another member of the Energy Express team, who helped with the beautification project in Grantsville, was Angela King. The town and mayor appreciate the efforts of this group of young women.

August 6, 2009

The Town of Grantsville is experiencing a garbage disposal crisis. The municipal trash truck has developed a problem in its compactor, which renders it unusable. Garbage is still being collected and stored in the municipal parking lot in a long dumpster. The town hopes to have the problem fixed soon and the parking lot cleaned up.

*    *    *    *

It’s August and we still are experiencing June weather. There has not been a prolonged stretch of really hot weather that we usually expect this time of year, and we have had plenty of rain. Last Friday, we were under a flash flood watch--again. The forecast has more rain this week.

*    *    *    *

Dick Cottrell, 66, of Arnoldsburg, was killed while brush hogging, when a tractor rolled over on him. See the obituary on this page.

*    *    *    *

The paving project in Grantsville and Rt. 16 North is going well. It seems that the resurfacing was almost complete as of Monday and gravel was being laid down for the berm on Tuesday. It will be a wider road this winter for those who brave the hill before the salt trucks treat the snow.

*    *    *    *

Summer youth workers are still making progress painting the parking areas around the courthouse and cleaning the streets of debris, dirt and weeds.

July 30, 2009

Storms moved through the area last Friday and Saturday, causing some localized damage on the southern end of the county. There was heavy rain, plenty of lightning, and strong winds in some places. 

*    *    *    *

Roane General Hospital will no longer be in the business of delivering babies. It looks like women in labor will have to plan on leaving early to make it to their chosen hospital. Perhaps prospective fathers should learn how to deliver babies, just in case the car breaks down or the baby won’t wait.

*    *    *    *

Now that there has been a confirmed case of H1N1 (swine flu) in Calhoun, I wonder if the price of pork will plummet. It seems some folks believe that you get the disease from eating pork. It would be nice if there was a “chocolate flu” that made people afraid of eating chocolate, which could reduce the price to nice and cheap.

*    *    *    *

The Chronicle received a call last week from a reader who thought that the Town of Grantsville was paying a $100 bounty on dead pigeons. He was informed that he was mistaken. We would be out of pigeons in about 30 minutes if that were the case.

*    *    *    *

The International Space Station, with the Space Shuttle attached, orbited over the county on Saturday and Sunday nights just after dark. It was too cloudy on Saturday and I forgot to look for it on Sunday. We did see the Russian spacecraft MIR go over some years back, just before it came back into the atmosphere. It was a sight to see.

July 23, 2009

We have been the recipient of needed rain within the last week. The Little Kanawha River was muddy for a day and a half. More rain is predicted through the end of the week.

*    *    *    *

For those who may be interested, the raccoons are still visiting my house on a nightly basis. The little raccoons are starting to get a tad fat, so they must be eating well without my contribution.

*    *    *    *

Wirt County leads the state in unemployment at 15.5%. Calhoun is second with 15%.

*    *    *    *

A bomb threat was allegedly telephoned to the U.S. Armory Reserve building below Big Bend last Wednesday. While it caused quite a stir for a while, no explosives were reported found. Calling in fake bomb threats is a serious felony. Jail is the reward you will get when caught.

*    *    *    *

There are many cute little spotted fawn deer running around in the fields (and my yard). Bucks are in velvet, and some of the racks look like a mossy sumac tree.

*    *    *    *

Someone apparently broke into the boarded-up home of the murdered Flanagans. A nearby hunting cabin, owned by an Ohio man, was also burglarized.

*    *    *    *

Grantsville resident John Manis Richards appeared before special judge Larry Starcher in Gilmer County and had his bond reinstated. A new trial date was set for Aug. 20. The trial is about the alleged stealing of equipment and materials from Hardman Supply, Glenville, in July, 2007.

July 16, 2009

I went fishing last week on my birthday and was able to catch almost 20 bass . . . on my camera. Family members were catching the bass left and right, while I was simply providing the fish with an evening of entertainment. It was great fun though, and I did catch two (very small) bass and a bluegill.

*    *    *    *

I always check the weather forecast for the area by going to the National Weather Service website (and then making up my own mind from the satellite and radar images). They have “On this date in weather history,” and I was reminded that, 20 years ago on July 13, Calhoun and Gilmer counties were hit by severe thunderstorms that dropped two to three inches of rain between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Flash flooding occurred on Barnes Run, Daniels Run, Pink Creek, Sycamore Creek, Rush Run, Steer Creek and Phillips Run. A 62-year-old man was swept into Mike’s Run while attempting to clear a culvert in front of his home. This quote came from the Chronicle, “Most people agreed on two things, that the flooding didn’t seem that bad at first, and that they have never seen so much water come up so quickly before.”

*    *    *    *

July 20 marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission that first landed men on the moon. Everyone old enough to remember that day can still recall the grainy, black and white images we saw as we gathered around television sets to witness those historic first steps on the lunar surface. I was attending Science Camp at Butcher Bend and I don’t believe any of us campers were able to go to sleep that night.

We heard President Nixon say, “For one priceless moment in the whole history of man all the people on this Earth are truly one--one in their pride in what you have done and one in our prayers that you will return safely to Earth.”

July 9, 2009

Although some of the hay put up last week got an extra rinse and a lot of stirring, the fields look a lot better now that they are cut. We can only hope the weather is better for a second cutting later on.

*    *    *    *

I forgot to bring the bird feeder in from the tree branch one night until maybe 20 minutes after dark. I thought it would not be a problem, since the raccoon usually raids it later than that. I went out to retrieve the feeder without a flashlight and almost grabbed the raccoon by mistake.

It was hanging from the limb by its back feet, one fore leg holding the top of the feeder up, and the other fore leg deep down in the birdseed. It looked quite surprised to see me, but not nearly as surprised as I was when I jerked my hand back out of harms way. I am now more diligent about bringing it in before dark.

*    *    *    *

Carl Smith Paving began road surfacing preparation on Rt. 16 North of Grantsville this week. New culverts and other work is being done first. Be prepared for delays until the project is finished.

*    *    *    *

The “Dog Days” of summer have started. I was always told that fishing at this time of the year was best done at night. Since the Little Kanawha River has been fairly clear for a while, I will try that philosophy soon and see how it goes.

*    *    *    *

Summer Youth Program workers have been busy around Grantsville, painting benches and trash receptacles at the courthouse, cleaning streets, and removing weeds growing in the cracks of sidewalks. More are working at Calhoun Middle/ High School and other locations. It makes things look better and keeps the youths occupied.

*    *    *    *

An accident involving a tractor-trailer closed traffic on one lane of Rt. 16 just before the Ritchie county line on Tuesday afternoon. The scanner reported the truck was in the ditch, but no one was injured.

July 2, 2009

The smell of fresh-cut hay is in the air, at least it is at Pleasant Hill. Although the second cutting should be well on its way, many farmers are just now able to get the first cutting in. It may be a rough year for fodder.

*    *    *    *

The raccoon that has been terrorizing our house on a nightly basis showed us the reason why on Monday night. She has four little beggars running along behind her. They must like what the birds kick to the ground from the feeder, because nothing is left out overnight to feed them.

*    *    *    *

Mustang Survival of Elizabeth will open a new facility in the former BF Goodrich building in Spencer. The company expects to hire 20 people initially and hopes to employ about 100 in a few years.

*    *    *    *

Tuesday morning, a car hit a deer and went out of control on the straight just below Calhoun Auto Care on Rt. 16. The car stopped on the edge of the road bank, just short of going over the hill. One passenger was taken to Minnie Hamilton Health System for evaluation.

*    *    *    *

The new video page on the Calhoun Chronicle website that shows performances at the Calhoun Wood Festival has been well received. They include Calhoun Idol winner Autumn Blair, “Fat Boy” Houchin and Side FX, Dixie Moon, and Johnny Staats and Bluegrass Brand. Just Click HERE

June 25, 2009

Over the weekend, we were under the threat of major storms and flood watches. Now, it looks like we will have some sunny weather. Perhaps, meadows can get their first cutting since many of them are beyond golden.

*    *    *    *

Lester McCumbers of Nicut was a winner once again at the Folk Festival in Glenville last weekend in the elder fiddle category. Eugene Parsons of Orma placed third in the over 50 banjo category.

*    *    *    *

Grantsville Guppies 4-H club has signed a contract to take on the responsibility of keeping a section of Rt. 5 free from litter. There are still plenty of miles of highway in the county that need adopted for litter control. If you or your organization is interested in helping keep Calhoun clean, call 800-322-5530.

*    *    *    *

There has been a recall of Toll House cookie dough due to some people suffering from e-coli bacteria after ingesting the raw dough. Each package states in the directions that the dough should never be eaten raw. While there is no worry about e-coli in cookies that have been properly baked, it always seems that some of the dough just never makes it to the cookie sheet. From now on, I’ll just bake the cookies and eat them when they are nice and hot.

*    *    *    *

The burnt out skeleton of the house at the corner of Florence and River streets in Grantsville was taken down last week. Although the fire was declared arson at the time, no arrests have been made.

June 18, 2009

The jet stream is still following a more southerly route than usual for this time of year, providing the area with more rain than usual. Next month, we will probably not get any rain and will remember this month a little more fondly.

*    *    *    *

A raccoon decided that my bird feeder was available for any wild animal smart enough to gain access to it. He started his escapade by climbing a tree, going out on a limb over the feeder and lifting the top on one end so he could help himself to the contents. The next night, he lifted the entire feeder from its hanger on the limb and dropped it 12 feet onto the ground. He had a nice picnic that night, but will have no more. The feeder comes in when it gets dark, and the birds wake me up in the morning as soon as it is light, so I will take it back out.

*    *    *    *

The Grantsville Community Garden, planted in the plot where the old Hamilton house stood above the graded school, received attention this past weekend, and now has a fence surrounding it and a sign proclaiming it. The rain has been good for the garden, which seems to be coming along nicely.

*    *    *    *

Frontier high speed internet service was interrupted for over 24 hours last Tuesday and Wednesday, causing delays in updating our web pages. Even out here in the country, we still live in a wired world.

*    *    *    *

A Parma, Ohio, man accused of robbing the Arnoldsburg branch of Calhoun Banks in December, Darin Stephen McClain, has pleaded guilty to one count of unarmed robbery in federal court. Sentencing is set for July.

*    *    *    *

A new page has been added to the Calhoun Chronicle website. A video page is available to view several Wood Festival performances, including Calhoun Idol winner Autumn Blair, “Fat Boy” Houchin and Side FX, and Johnny Staats and Bluegrass Brand. A link to the videos is on the main page at www.calhounchronicle.com. If the project is well received, we will endeavor to post other videos.

June 11, 2009

Despite the predictions last Tuesday morning from the National Weather Service, it rained for the Wood Festival. It did dry up on Friday, although the fog on Friday night was so thick even bats had trouble flying through it. Saturday was just about the prettiest last day of the festival ever seen, sunny but not too hot.

*    *    *    *

The tree that was growing in the middle of the sidewalk island next to Dollar Store is no more. It seems that the tree’s roots had been breaking into the sewer lines, so it was cut down. It was one of the prettiest, white blooming trees each spring.

*    *    *    *

It seems that economic times can make some folks desperate. Several cars were broken into during daylight by “smash and grab” thieves on Saturday while the owners were enjoying activities on the West Fork and in Grantsville. Five of the thefts happened along Rt. 5 just east of the bridge, one was along west Main St., and three others at the southern end of the county. Anyone with information about these nefarious crimes can call Grantsville police, 354-7500, or the sheriff’s office, 354-6333.

*    *    *    *

Former Grantsville police chief J.D. Nicholson died on Monday at his residence in Walton. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

*    *    *    *

A woman from Sand Ridge, the edge of the Bear Fork wilderness, caught an unusual, unfriendly animal in a live trap last week. It had the markings of a strange looking cat, but was not a bobcat. She turned it over to DNR officer Eric Bostic for identification. Finding nothing wrong with the cat, he released it back into the wild close to Bear Fork. A woman came forward who owned the cat and said that it had escaped when a satellite installer left her door open. Bostic took her to where he released the cat, but it is yet to be found.

*    *    *    *

It was nice to see familiar faces in the crowds at the Wood Festival. While some festivals are getting smaller, thanks to the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers associated with it, the Wood Festival seems to be growing in popularity.

June 4, 2009

Hayfields are being mowed and the rain may actually hold off until the hay is put up and the Wood Festival is over. That doesn’t happen very often.

*    *    *    *

Someone was looking over a program for the Wood Festival Chorus from 1964 and noticed that there were 45 businesses sponsoring the event. Now, 45 years later, only seven of those businesses remain: Furr’s Auto Sales, The Calhoun Chronicle, Calhoun Insurance Agency, J&B Drug Store, Smith’s Auto Repair, Stump Funeral Home, and Meadow Gold Dairy (now Dairy Products, Inc.). 

*    *    *    *

Thunderstorms, accompanied by high winds, went through the area last Saturday night and caused some minor damage and put on a spectacular light show . . . in my yard. My telephones are now history and any other lightning damage will show up soon.

*    *    *    *

Excitement has been building all week in anticipation of the start of the Wood Festival on Thursday. There will be many good musical acts, lots of booths featuring arts and crafts, tasty food, carnival rides for   the kids, and a new event, Calhoun Idol contest. I am looking forward to all the events and I am sure I will see you there.

*    *    *    *

Frontier internet service was out for much of the weekend for folks in the county, due to a cable being severed in Wood County. It was a minor inconvenience for most, but a serious problem for businesses who take credit and debit cards.

May 28, 2009

The ground was starting to crack and gardens were beginning to look a little parched until rain began falling early this week. It was welcomed by all, except those who have been thinking about cutting their hay. The heavy seed heads were bent low by the precipitation, but a few days of sunshine should stand them up.

*    *    *    *

Rt. 16 North of Grantsville had the trash picked up last week by the same gentleman as before. It looked beautiful the first day, had a few pieces of trash the next day, and, unless folks stop throwing garbage out the windows of their vehicles, will be a mess in a few weeks.

*    *    *    *

A young couple were observed floating on an air mattress down the Little Kanawha River on Sunday. They started out at the boat launch above Grantsville in the early afternoon, winding up in town almost five hours later.             

 They highly recommend that anyone attempting the same trip in sunny circumstances use sunscreen . . . lots of sunscreen. They also mentioned that the juice of the aloe vera plant is very soothing in the short term for sunburn.

*    *    *    *

Despite everything else they have to eat, deer have been sneaking into yards and feasting on flowers and ferns. Some people are starting to get more than a little upset with the thieves and will soon be bouncing stones off of their hides.

*    *    *    *

Memorial Day is a time for remembering loved ones, honoring those who gave their lives for our freedom, and family mini-reunions. Several groups of family members met at the courthouse or in the town parking lot in Grantsville on Monday, so that they could all go together to various graveyards. Over the weekend, there were many family barbecues all over the county.

May 21, 2009

Scattered late frost was in the area on Monday and Tuesday mornings; otherwise, temperatures this week will be quite nice. There is a slight chance of showers for Memorial Day, with temperatures in the mid-70s.

*    *    *    *

The large PATH power line that was proposed to go through near Grantsville now appears to cutting across the bottom of Calhoun in the Mudfork-Walnut area. The width of the proposed area is big enough that the line could miss Calhoun altogether.

*    *    *    *

Hayfields in Calhoun are getting golden seed heads in preparation for the first cutting of the season. Some folks cut their hay around Memorial Day, and others wait for the first week of June.

*    *    *    *

The Little Kanawha River is starting to look good for fishing. It might be a good time to gather the kids and go wet a line.

*    *    *    *

West Virginia’s Vandalia Gathering will celebrate its 33rd anniversary this weekend on the Capitol Grounds in Charleston. It is the place to be for mountain traditional music, arts, crafts and lies. Biggest Liars Contest is one of the highlights of the weekend and Calhoun has had winners in the event.

May 14, 2009

Calhoun County received at least a little bit of luck when heavy rains that were forecast for last Friday night and Saturday morning fell far to the south.

*    *    *    *

Fireflies have been making their appearance in the evening hours and Luna moths have been seeking outdoor lights.

*    *    *    *

Residents living along the Little Kanawha River were concerned late last week when heavy rains caused water at Burnsville Lake to raise 12 feet higher than normal, flooding campgrounds and launching ramps. When the rains stopped and the water level receded downstream, excess water was released from the dam, which maintained or raised the level of the river above its banks.

*    *    *    *

Last week’s flooding may have destroyed the nesting sites of waterfowl along the river. After water began to recede, Canadian geese and several species of duck were spotted walking along the water’s edge without the little fuzz balls that would have been accompanying them in another few weeks.

*    *    *    *

Randall Arnold of Millstone has unearthed a very strange looking rock, while digging with a backhoe about six feet under ground. It has the appearance of a very large bone. He plans to have the artifact evaluated to see what it is.

May 7, 2009

Heavy rain caused flooding in the county on Monday. The forecast for midweek called for more rain, with dry conditions for the weekend.

*    *    *    *

Tasty springtime treats, known as morel mushrooms, are still coming up. The gray, white and giant yellow morels are ripe for harvest. There are only a few weeks left for you to get out and pick some.

*    *    *    *

Police were involved in a chase across four counties last Friday night and Saturday morning. It began on Altizer Road, west of Arnoldsburg, and the driver continued toward Roane County and into Mason and Jackson counties before eluding authorities. A Calhoun man, Gary Ackley, called Sheriff Allen Parsons on Satur-day afternoon to turn himself in.

*    *    *    *

Former Grantsville police chief J.D. Nicholson was allegedly attacked by an unknown assailant on the porch of his home in Walton. Roane County Sheriff’s Dept. is investigating.

*    *    *    *

A local woman was killed and a man injured on Saturday in a four-wheeler accident near Stumptown. The obituary for Amber Nichole Lamp, 24, of Big Springs, is on page two of this week's print edition and on the obituary page of this website.

April 30, 2009

Even though the calendar says it is still spring, thermometers showed summertime temperatures of 92 degrees on Saturday and 91 on Sunday at my house. Thunderstorms were to cool things by midweek. Temperatures on the weekend will still be in the 70’s.

*    *    *    *

Carpenter bees (wood boring bees that look like bumblebees) have been hanging around my decks and dive-bombing anyone who comes out. This is the time of year that I get to practice my tennis swings. I don’t play tennis, I just swat the big bees. Actually it is a squash racquet -- the shorter handle increases the thrill.

After years of being swatted, the bees seem to be a little bit smarter. I walk out on the deck and one (or more) will appear in front of my face to challenge me. As soon as I pick up my tennis racket, they disappear. I have to hide it alongside my leg or behind my back, and then they will come, and die. I have been able to greatly improve my backhand.

*    *    *    *

A local man was observed cleaning up trash on Town Hill by himself. He gathered quite a few bags of trash in his endeavor and made the roadway look very nice--until thoughtless people kept on throwing trash out of their cars. Now, it is almost as bad as it was before.

*    *    *    *

Improvements are being made in Grantsville. Main Street Cafe is having an awning installed over the deck in front of the establishment. It will provide shelter for folks who use the walk-up window.

*    *    *    *

There was a mild earthquake last Friday morning, centered near Gallipolis, Ohio. These earthquakes may be associated with the New Madrid Seismic Zone, located midway between St. Louis and Memphis. It has a history of shaking violently, about every 500 years. When it shook for three months in 1811-12, this was the western frontier, and the population was sparse. If it shook with that magnitude again, the devastation could be worse than that caused by Hurricane Katrina.

*    *    *    *

Some in Calhoun are concerned about the swine flu outbreak that is beginning to spread northward from Mexico. According to USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu viruses are not transmitted by food, so you cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills other food borne pathogens.

April 23, 2009

Apple trees, dogwoods, red buds and trilliums make walking in the woods a pleasure this time of year. Grab your camera and your loved ones and take a hike this weekend.

*    *    *    *

The county continues to buzz with rumors and worry about the murder of two county residents in the Millstone area. State police are still following leads and are working to solve the case.

*    *    *    *

Fire destroyed a trailer on Pink Road last Wednesday morning. It had reportedly been empty for about a month.

*    *    *    *

A spokesman for the new PATH high-voltage power line, slated to come through Calhoun County around 2013, said that the project has been delayed by a year due to the current drop in demand for electricity because of the recession.

*    *    *    *

The unemployment rate for Calhoun in March was 14.3%. Hopefully, that number will drop as seasonal jobs open up for unemployed residents.

*    *    *    *

Wild turkeys continue to issue challenges every morning to other tom turkeys--and the hunters who are preparing for spring gobbler season.

*    *    *    *

The weather forecast for this weekend is looking very good. Temperatures will be in the low 80’s with mostly sunny skies. It should be excellent weather for going fishing or morel hunting, and taking photos of wildflowers.

April 16, 2009

Typical springtime weather was in force last week. Cold, warm, chilly, rainy and sunny, and that was just Wednesday. Whippoorwills and screech owls are singing nightly, and wood ticks have made an appearance. Be sure to check the kids for ticks after they play outside.

*    *    *    *

Morel mushrooms are really coming on strong. Although I was unable to look for them last weekend, reports indicate that this may be a banner year for finding plenty of the little delicacies. Morels are very good for you. On their own, before cooking, I doubt they have many calories or grams of fat, and I guarantee that you will lose weight if you climb the hills looking for them.

*    *    *    *

There were reports of a rather large rabbit or bunny hopping through area yards over the weekend, hiding things in clumps of grass and littering. It was deemed not to be the crime of misdemeanor littering when it was discovered that the bunny was only leaving behind candy and other prizes. Children from all over the county volunteered to search for all the left behind stuff and dispose of it themselves.

*    *    *    *

Many area residents attended the Mustang Survival job fair in Spencer last week. People were able to fill out applications for the jobs which are reported to pay $8 an hour, with benefits. Mustang makes flight suits for NASA and the military. The Elizabeth company stands to benefit from a federal stimulus package that requires products for the government to be manufactured in the U.S. The proposed Spencer location could eventually employ more than 100 people.

April 9, 2009

Old man winter came by for a brief visit this week. Tuesday morning, we were treated to a little dusting of snow with large flakes floating down most of the day. Several days previously were nice and warm with rain showers. Morel mushrooms are tall enough to harvest for those who look among the poplars close to the top of the hills.

*    *    *    *

A head-on collision between a car and a pickup truck on Rt. 5 at the Calhoun-Wirt line sent three people to hospitals last Friday. One of the victims was flown to Charleston with a possible head injury. Grantsville and Wirt County volunteer fire departments responded to the scene and used extraction devices to rescue the victims.

*    *    *    *

An electric pole caught fire in the rain on Saturday at Pleasant Hill. Although there was no real damage to property, Grantsville VFD discovered the cause of the blaze--a squirrel. The tiny arsonist lost his life in the inferno.

*    *    *    *

Fishing is still good for those willing to get wet. Big Bend resident Caleb Schoolcraft caught a 45-inch muskie on Sunday that weighed 23 lbs.

*    *    *    *

A compressor station located on Crooked Run at Orma, oper-ated by Dominion, developed a problem early Monday morning when, apparently, a steel ball that is used to push fluid through the line became stuck and caused a relief valve to vent pressurized natural gas with a loud whistling noise.

*    *    *    *

Some of Calhoun County’s geocaches have been seeing activity. If you have a GPS device and are interested in the sport of geocaching, go to www.geocaching.com and type your zip code into the search box to see what you can find. There are some nice ones here and plenty more in surrounding counties.

*    *    *    *

During Monday’s session of Calhoun circuit court, Judge David Nibert rejected a binding plea agreement of defendant Christopher Todd Smith. The defendant withdrew his guilty plea and the court ordered parties back to the original standing. His next court appearance is scheduled May 5.

April 2, 2009

Soaking rains have lowered the immediate threat of brush fires in the area and have pushed spring blossoming into high gear. Trilliums and mayapple are coming up, redbuds are showing color, and morels are just beginning to show. While too small to harvest, brown morels should be ready by next weekend.

*    *    *    *

Ramps are ready to dig and are tasty springtime treats. Though there is no longer a ramp festival in the county, there will probably be some ramp dinners held by local organizations.

*    *    *    *

I am looking forward to the first cutting of the lawn that, traditionally, occurs just after Easter. The clumps of high grass are perfect for egg hiding (although the grandchildren have figured that out) .

*    *    *    *

Paris and Orva Parsons of Minnora were lucky to escape injury last Wednesday when their car went off Rt. 16 and crashed before going into the West Fork.

*    *    *    *

Residents of Millstone and Arnoldsburg reported a drop in water pressure on Wednesday morning last week and complete loss of water most of the day. Service was restored on Wednesday evening.

*    *    *    *

The price of gasoline has begun to rise again. It must be almost time for folks to go on vacation. It seems that when the time to drive far distances comes around, the price goes up enough to keep us from going far. That’s alright, there are  plenty of places nearby to keep us occupied, happy and spending our money in West Virginia.

*    *    *    *

Fishing is starting to pick up. Local anglers have been busy trying to catch the “big one.” I would be happy to catch just one. I may be losing my touch as I “mature.”

March 26, 2009

The very dry weather this spring has made the woodlands extremely susceptible to fire. Please don’t burn anything outside until we get some rain. Even cigarette smoking can spark a brush fire, so be extra careful when extinguishing them. If you are found responsible for a brush fire, you can be found liable for any damages caused by that fire.

*    *    *    *

Ramps are beginning to peek through the old leaves in the woods. It will be nice to fry some up with a pan of potatoes and bacon in a week or so.

*    *    *    *

The large magnolia tree at the south end of Main St. in Grantsville has been trying to bloom this week, but the cold weather is holding it back. Its blooming has suffered in recent years due to late frosts, but was spectacular last year.

*    *    *    *

A trial to hear motions has been set for Apr. 17 in Gilmer County circuit court for Grantsville resident John Manis Richards, related to charges stemming from an alleged theft of over $33,000 in materials and equipment last July from Hardman Supply, Glenville.

The trial was delayed when Richards’ attorney’s office was destroyed by a fire. Two  judges, Richard A. Facemire and Jack Alsop, have recused themselves from the case because of information concerning them that had been listed on two websites.

Larry V. Starcher, former State supreme court justice, has been recalled for temporary assignment to hear the case, which is scheduled in May.

*    *    *    *

The highway department kept roads in pretty good shape all winter and has begun the annual spring brush hogging. I hope that the redbud trees along the edges of Rt. 16 north of Grantsville are not cut until they show their colors. They always make a great contrast with the white dogwoods.

March 19, 2009

The hills and valleys continue to turn green in anticipation of the official arrival of spring at 11:44 a.m. on Friday, Mar. 20. Turkeys have been singing in the morning and the larger groups they ran with during the winter are beginning to break up. There seem to be plenty of them to provide good hunting.

*    *    *    *

Lilacs leaves are showing, forsythia is about to bloom and weeping willows are showing streamers of green. Tulips should be showing off their flowers in another week. Enjoy it all and be sure to take plenty of photographs.

*    *    *    *

Folks have been spotted on the banks of the Little Kanawha River doing some early fishing. A few have been seen enjoying a little boating and fishing below the launching ramp on Rt. 7. Good luck to all and may the big ones stay on the line, at least until you can see them.

*    *    *    *

Work continues on the courthouse roof in Grantsville. Mon-day afternoon, a crane truck from Modern Builders of Mineral Wells was parked on the lawn beside the south side of the courthouse to lift the materials to the top of the three-story structure to re-roof that section. Quite a few of the people on the sidewalks took a break to watch the action that went without a hitch.

*    *    *    *

The walking path at Underwood Field has more users since the weather has begun to warm up. Walking is an easy and cost-free way to lose weight, lower cholesterol and keep in shape. Depending on the individual, an average of 100 calories is burned per mile walked. There are between 1,760 and 2,640 steps in a mile (depending on your stride). An average fitness-walking pace is about 15 minutes per mile. The pace varies depending on your fitness level, technique, goals, and terrain.

For general fitness walking, you should walk at a pace that increases your heart rate, and one that you can maintain for 30 to 60 minutes. Try the talk test-- if you can’t say a sentence without gasping for air you are walking too fast; if you are walking slowly enough that you can sing a song, you are probably walking too slow.

Since walking is good for the body and the soul, I suspect the hiking paths through the woods at Calhoun County Park will see a lot more use once the wild flowers begin to blossom.

March 12, 2009

The first week of March ended with spring-like warmth. Temperatures were close to 80 degrees and gardens were getting plowed. Night crawlers are already out on warm, rainy nights, calling to those who fish to get ready for spring fishing.

Robins and bluebirds have re-appeared in the area and spring peepers insure us all that we have made it through the worst of winter. Spring is just around the corner and now is the time to enjoy the early flowers.

*    *    *    *

Spring brush fire season is here and local fire departments have already been called into action. Outdoor burning, when it is windy, is never a good idea. Follow the burning laws and use common sense when doing any outdoor burning.

*    *    *    *

The highway department has been taking advantage of the good weather to patch some of the holes that winter weather has made in the roads. Some paving projects are set for later this year in the county.

*    *    *    *

Two men from Calhoun have been charged for allegedly breaking into Barker’s Marathon in Smithville last June. Keith Allen Lamp, 23, was arrested in Jackson County and taken to North Central Regional Jail. John Frederick Fisher, 29, was also arrested.

The men are charged with breaking and entering, theft, and felony destruction of property. According to the Ritchie County magistrate clerk’s office, bond has been set at $10,000 each.

*    *    *    *

An accident about two miles East of Grantsville on Rt. 7 in the Enon straight claimed the life of a Creston man on Wednesday, Mar. 4. Chris Bell, 21, was traveling toward Russett when his vehicle went out of control and struck a road bank.

March 5, 2009

March came in pretty much like a lamb on Sunday in Calhoun, while slamming almost the entire East Coast with a snowstorm. Goldfinches at the bird feeder are beginning to  lose their dull colored winter feathers in order to gain the beautiful golden plumage of summer.

*    *    *    *

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday. Set your clock ahead one hour so you can get up early and enjoy an extra hour of daylight in the evening. Monday morning will be fun when you have to wake the kids up an hour earlier than usual.

*    *    *    *

Residents are already tired of the new mandatory ten-digit dialing required for local calls. Once the new 681 area code is issued for new customers, you will have to ask people, even a new neighbor, for their complete phone number just to make sure.

*    *    *    *

Mar. 7, 1967, saw the largest flood in history for the Little Kanawha River at Grantsville, cresting at 43.9 feet. Leon (Big) Yoak operated a temporary ferry boat to get people from the road in front of the high school to Rt. 16, so they could get to town.

The water was so high that Yoak took his motorboat over the fence at the end of the football field without touching. Johnboats were tied to the pillars of Rainbow Hotel and Restaurant along Court St. and boats maneuvered down Mill St. to deliver hot meals to folks who stayed in their homes throughout the flood.

*    *    *    *

Wild onions are pushing their way up through the leaves (when the ground isn’t frozen brick-hard) and some crocus are blooming (when not snow-covered). It won’t be too long before ramps come up and morel mushrooms are peeking up from the forest floor.

February 26, 2009

As a reminder that winter still has three official weeks left on the calendar, up to four inches of snow blanketed the area on Sunday morning. There were some minor accidents caused by the slick roads, but the snow was of the beautiful variety that adhered to tree limbs and made the woods look like a postcard, although it made walking difficult for dogs with short legs. It is forecast to warm up this week with a chance of rain. For the courageous, onion sets are now available for planting.

*    *    *    *

The windstorm last week blew away the Calhoun County flag outside the Chronicle office. After a brief search, it was decided that the flag was probably gone forever. It was later found by a county resident wrapped around a stop sign on Mill Street and returned. You just can’t beat the honesty and integrity of Calhoun people.

*    *    *    *

Winifred White of Chloe will be honored Feb. 26 at W.Va. State University at Institute. She will be presented with an “Un-sung Heroes” award at the 7th annual Civil Rights Day awards ceremony.

 *    *    *    *

The historic Corder bridge, located on Rts. 33/119 at the Roane-Calhoun line, is scheduled for replacement sometime this year. It was suppose to be replaced in 2007, but was delayed by complications. The new bridge will be constructed next to the old one using steel I-beams with concrete decking.

It is estimated that the project, including straightening about a half mile of roadway, will take about two years to complete. A plan released in 2005 listed the cost as $1.5 million, but it will likely be more now.

*    *    *    *

Grantsville Volunteer Fire Dept. has a new rescue truck in service. It is fully equipped for emergencies, including an air bag that can lift up to 28 tons. The truck was obtained with grant money and help from local sources and businesses.

*    *    *    *

The Chronicle website, www.calhounchronicle.com, is attracting more and more viewers from around the county, the country and the world. It is updated every Wednesday with feature stories, sports page, and when available, photos of the week.

February 19, 2009

A mighty wind blew through the region on Wednesday night of last week, causing quite a bit of damage and scaring hilltop residents with a roar as loud as thunder. National Weather Ser-vice showed wind speed recorded at Wood County airport in excess of 70 miles per hour.

Locally, about 2,000 residents were without electrical power, and damage was listed as blown-over trees, property damage to barns and outbuildings, missing roof tiles and tin, and exchange of children’s outside toys from yard to yard.

The sign at Pleasant Hill U.M. Church had its frame twisted out of shape. The sign was recovered from across the road and some distance over the hill. The large American flag at the courthouse received damage and now has a rip in it.

If a wind that strong had come through the area after the trees were in full-leaf, the damage would have been much worse.

*    *    *    *

The days are getting longer now and more flowers are beginning to come up. Tulips, daffodils and some I have yet to identify are peeking through the leaves.

*    *    *    *

A reader was concerned about the 75 years ago segment missing from “This Week in History.” The problem lies in the microfiche reel for 1934 at the library. It doesn’t begin until October. We will add it to the column when it is available.

February 12, 2009

Winter’s grip on Calhoun loosened a little this past week. Temperatures over the weekend were in the 60’s and almost all of the snow has melted. There are still patches of ice in sheltered hollows, but the warmth and rainfall this week will take care of that.

*       *       *       *

The first spring flowers that we see at our house, delicate little white snowdrops, are already coming up and will be blooming by the end of the month. Songbirds are beginning to pay us back for the food we gave them this winter by regaling us with their spring calls of joy.

*       *       *       *

Monday, Feb. 16, marks the sixth anniversary of the ice storm that hit the region in 2003 and caused so much devastation to woodlands.

*       *       *       *

Even though the mandatory switch from analog to digital TV has been delayed by congress, only WOAY, Oak Hill, will continue to broadcast an analog signal. The other stations will discontinue analog broadcasting on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Remember, reading is good for the soul, uses much less electricity, and allows the imagination to add special effects to stories.

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People on the streets of Grantsville seemed to be in better spirits this week, since they were able to walk about without a heavy coat on, face turned away from the wind and snow. The rain that is due will most likely turn those smiles upside down.

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The national unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent in January. West Virginia posted an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in December, while Calhoun County was at 7.7. With all the layoffs that occur each week throughout the country, we could soon be below the national average.

February 5, 2009

January ended with cold, snow, rain, sleet, and all the problems that brings to those who walk on two legs and drive on four wheels. The middle of last week had the region under a winter storm warning that forced many cancellations.

On Sunday, the weather warmed just enough to melt some of the snow off the hillsides and back roads in time for folks to go to Super Bowl parties and to make way for the snow that is due to fall this week.

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The Pennsylvania groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow on Monday, but French Creek Freddie was treated to a cloudy day. Since Freddie didn’t see his shadow, perhaps winter will be over soon. 

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There were many accidents in Calhoun in the past week due to the slick roads. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. The pastures and hillsides were marked with the straight lines of sleds and resounded with the laughter of children building snowmen and having snowball fights. 

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Although many people were surprised last Wednesday that the paper was available when they stopped to buy one, the Chronicle has not missed a day due to weather in well over 20 years.

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The new president attempted to get the date for digital TV conversion pushed back to June 12. The Senate passed the bill last Monday, but the bill failed to pass in the House of Representatives. For now, that means your off-the-air broadcasts will end Feb. 17, if you aren’t ready for the switch.

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Mandatory 10-digit dialing on all local calls, except 911, will begin at the end of this month. Make sure you are ready for the change by practicing now and setting up your phone’s internal phonebook for the changeover.  

January 29, 2009

Mother Nature is once again in charge of Calhoun County. More snow began falling around 2 a.m. on Tuesday. The entire area was under a severe winter storm warning and a flood watch in case the rain melts all the snow. It is supposed to clear up by Saturday, so maybe it won’t interfere with Super Bowl Sunday.

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Five Forks resident Charlie Blair has had to endure another fire. Two years ago this month, Charlie’s house burned to the ground and now a mobile home he was living in has burned. Blair suffered second degree burns in this fire, but vows to start over again.

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Another fire at Sinking Springs of Wednesday of last week destroyed the home and all possessions of Darren and Alma Graffius. They were both at work and their daughter Carrie was at school. The family is in need of everything. You can help them by calling 655-7209 or mailing contributions to P.O. Box 153, Arnoldsburg, WV 25234.

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There seemed to be hundreds of b